WordGarden.ioout
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈaʊt/
US
- /ˈaʊt/
Meanings
Adverb
outside, away from the inside, or into the open
Adjective
not at home, at work, or in the usual place
not operating, available, or active; extinguished or offline
openly acknowledged as gay or otherwise not concealing one's LGBTQ identity
Verb
to reveal publicly that someone is gay or otherwise LGBTQ
Noun
a dismissal or recorded retirement in certain sports such as baseball or cricket
Beyond the definition
"Out" seems simple, but it is surprisingly flexible. It can mean not being inside something, as in "The cat is out of the house." It can also show that something has ended or finished, like when "school is out" for the summer. Sometimes it means something has become known, as when a secret gets out. It can also describe a state where something is missing, gone, or used up, like being "out of ideas" or "out of milk." In many cases, it works as the opposite of "in," but it carries several other everyday meanings too.
The little word "out" does a lot of work in English. At its most basic, it means not inside. Picture a mischievous puppy slipping out the door. It is no longer in the house. But that is only the beginning. "Out" can also signal completion or an ending. When the school bell rings in June and students shout, "School's out," it means the academic year has finished. In the same way, a fire is "out" after firefighters extinguish it, meaning it is no longer burning.
But "out" is not limited to physical spaces or endings. It can describe a state of being, often implying that something is missing, unavailable, or exhausted. If you are "out of gas," you have no fuel left. If you are "out of patience," your tolerance is gone. A store can be "out of stock" when it has nothing left to sell. You might be "out of ideas" when facing a difficult problem, or "out of luck" if things are not going your way.
"Out" also helps express the idea of revealing something. To "let something out" is to make it known. A secret might slip out, or you might say something out loud without planning to. Sometimes "out" means away from home or not available, as in "She is out right now." It can also mean visible or available: the sun comes out after a cloudy day, and a new movie is finally out in theaters.
From simple locations to finished events, missing supplies, public secrets, and being away, "out" covers a wide range of everyday meanings. It often starts with the idea of not being in, then grows into many related uses that are common in daily speech.
Examples
- 1
Movement
She opened the door and stepped out.
- 2
Outdoor play
The kids are playing out in the yard.
- 3
Household task
Could you take the trash out before dinner?
- 4
Social plans
I’m going out with friends tonight.
- Phrasego out
leave home for a social activity
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Not available
He’s out right now, but he’ll be back after lunch.
- 6
Weather
The sun came out after the rain stopped.
- 7
Forms
Please fill out this form and sign at the bottom.
- Phrasefill out a form
write the needed information on it
- 8
Supplies
We ran out of milk this morning.
- Patternrun out of + thing
use all of it
- 9
Store stock
The store is out of bread today.
- Patternout of + item
having none left
- 10
Lights
The lights went out during the storm.
- Phrasego out
stop shining or working
- 11
Release date
His new album comes out next week.
- Phrasecome out
become available to the public
- 12
Hidden truth
The truth finally came out.
- Phrasecome out
become known
- 13
Spoken answer
Say your answer out loud so everyone can hear.
- Phraseout loud
in a voice people can hear
- 14
Learning information
She found out about the meeting too late.
- Phrasefind out
learn information
- 15
Problem solving
We need to sort out this problem before Friday.
- Phrasesort out
solve or organize something
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- outnounadjectiveadverb
Forms
- outspluralnounadjectiveadverb