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0
used to show movement away from the inside of a place or container:
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She opened the window and stuck her head out.
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The bag broke and the apples fell out.
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I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.
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He leaned out the window.
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He opened the drawer and took out a pair of socks.
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Get out!
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Out you go! (= Go out!)
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My secretary will see you out (= go with you to the door).
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Turn the trousers inside out (= put the inside on the outside).
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1
outside a building or room:
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If you wait out here, we will call you when the doctor is ready.
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Danger! Keep out! (= Do not enter!)
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It's bitterly cold out, today.
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2
absent for a short time from the place where you live or work:
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I came around to see you this morning, but you were out.
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Someone called while you were out.
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I can't go out tonight - I have work to do.
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Do you want to eat out (= eat in a restaurant) tonight?
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He asked me out (= asked me to go with him) to the cinema next week.
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The thieves were spotted by a postman out on his rounds (= as he was delivering the post).
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The police were out in force (= there were a lot of police) at the demonstration.
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Both copies of "Wuthering Heights" were out.
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3
to the point where something is removed or disappears:
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The stain won't come out.
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Cross out any words that are not on the list.
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Never use water to put out fires in electrical equipment.
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Our time/money/patience ran out.
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We're nearly out of petrol.
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I'm running out of patience/time/money.
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4
(in sport) no longer able to play because your turn is over:
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Two of the best players on the team were out after ten minutes.
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New Zealand were all out for 246 (= the team finished with a score of 246).
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The Social Democrats were voted out after 15 years in power.
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5
to many people:
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The teacher gave out test books to all the students.
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Greenpeace sent a letter out to all its supporters.
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6
spreading out from a central point over a wider area:
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7
When a book, magazine, film, or musical recording is out, it is available to the public:
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Is her new book out yet?
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The new movie comes out in August.
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8
able to be seen:
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The stars are out tonight.
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The rain stopped and the sun came out (= appeared).
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In spring all the flowers came out (= their petals opened).
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9
used to make the meaning of a word stronger:
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We walked all day and were tired out (= very tired) by the time we got home.
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It's up to you to sort this out (= deal with it completely).
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10
used with verbs describing sounds to emphasize the loudness of the sound:
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He cried out in pain as he hit his head.
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Charlie Chaplin films always make me laugh out loud.
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11
a long distance away from land, a town, or your own country:
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The fishing boats were out at sea for three days.
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They live out in the country, miles from anywhere.
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He lived out in Zambia for seven years.
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mainly US The weather's better out west (= a long distance away in the west of the country).
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12
If a light or fire is out, it is no longer shining or burning:
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When we got home, all the lights were out.
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Is that fire completely out?
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13
away from the coast or beach:
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Is the tide coming in or going out?
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You can only see the beach when the tide is out.
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14
(of information) no longer kept secret:
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You can't hide your gambling any longer - the secret's out.
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She came out three years ago.
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He hasn't come out to his family yet.
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15
(of a ball in a sport such as tennis) landing outside one of the lines that mark the area where the game is played:
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He thought the ball had bounced on the line, but the umpire said it was out.
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16
unconscious or sleeping:
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He passes out (= loses consciousness) at the sight of blood.
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I was hit on the head, and I must have been out cold (= completely unconscious) for about ten minutes.
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17
not accurate:
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Our estimates were only out by a few dollars.
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You were an inch out in your measurements.
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Those sales figures were way out (= completely wrong).
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US I'm out $25 on this trip (= it cost me $25 more than expected).
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18
(used with superlatives) available or in existence:
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19
used to show that a period of time is finished:
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I think I can finish this project before the month's out.
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20
not acceptable or not possible:
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Smoking is definitely out among my friends.
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The option of taking on more staff is out for the moment.
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21
no longer fashionable or popular:
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Every month the magazine lists what's out and what's in (= fashionable).
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Trousers like that went out (= stopped being fashionable) in the 70s.
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22
doing something, or intending to do something, for an unpleasant reason or only because it is good for you and not others:
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She doesn't usually help the charity - she's only out for the publicity.
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[ + to infinitive ] He's always been out to cause trouble between us.
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23
to publish the fact that a famous person is gay, especially when that person does not want it to be known:
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Hardly a week went by without someone famous being outed.
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24
an excuse or reason for avoiding an unpleasant situation:
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We must arrange the negotiations so we have an out if we need it.
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Lizzie and Tyler are on the outs again.
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25
used to add the meaning "not central" to nouns and adjectives:
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the outskirts of town (= the areas that form the edge of the town)
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26
used to add the meaning "going further" or "being better than" to verbs:
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She doesn't drink or smoke and I'm sure she'll outlive (= live longer than) us all.
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27
used to add the meaning "out of" or "away from" to nouns and adjectives:
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28
from within to a place or position that is not inside a building or not enclosed or contained:
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I’m going out for a walk.
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He leaned out the window and waved.
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Our office looks out on a public park.
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29
away or absent from your home or place of work:
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I’ll be out tomorrow.
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Leo went out to lunch .
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We often eat out (= at restaurants).
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Bill asked me out (= to go somewhere enjoyable together).
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I checked at the library and that book is out.
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30
away from a place or starting point, or far away:
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They moved out to the country.
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Have you sent out the invitations yet?
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31
in the area beyond a building or room, or outdoors (= not in a building):
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It’s cold out today.
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They camped out.
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Keep out (= Do not enter).
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32
to the point where something is removed or disappears:
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The stain on my tie won’t come out.
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Cross out the second number.
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33
completely, or as much as possible:
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She stretched out on the bed.
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We were tired out.
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34
aloud, so other people can hear:
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Her mother called out to us.
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35
(esp. of a book, movie, or recording) available to the public:
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Is his new novel out yet?
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36
made known to the public:
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The secret’s out about her retirement.
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37
able to be seen:
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It stopped raining and the sun came out.
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38
no longer operating or working:
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The electricity went out during the storm.
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Be sure the fire is out.
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39
unconscious, sleeping, or not aware:
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He passed out (= became unconscious).
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Matt was so tired, he’s out cold (= in a deep sleep).
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40
(coming) into a condition in which something has been used and no more of it is left:
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Our money ran out.
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His luck was running out.
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Renew your membership before the month is out.
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41
not fashionable or popular:
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42
not acceptable, not possible, or not allowed:
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Thursday is out so let’s meet Friday.
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43
intending to do or get something:
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He’s just out for a good time.
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The mayor is out to get some publicity.
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44
failing or having failed to reach a base:
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He was out on a close play at second base.
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45
an excuse or reason for avoiding an unpleasant situation:
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The kids need to get home, so we have an out if we need it.
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46
away from the main office, etc. in order to do a particular job:
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She is out on a service call, but will be back in about an hour.
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47
absent from the place where you work:
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He is out of the office right now.
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I will be out for the rest of the morning.
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He has been out sick all week.
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48
available for the public to buy:
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A new version of this phone has just come out.
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49
not working:
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The power has been out for two hours.
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50
not accurate:
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Our estimates were only out by a few dollars.
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Those sales figures were way out.
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51
taking part in a strike (= refusing to work):
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52
not able to be used:
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The elevators were out of action and we had to walk up to his office.
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53
if you are out of something, you do not have it:
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We're completely out of toner for the printer.
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Four out of five broadband users don't know how fast their connections are.
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54
if something can be used out of the box, it can be used immediately, without a lot of effort being needed to prepare it:
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These solutions work straight out of the box.
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an out-of-the-box training program