In its original and strict sense, out means from the interior of something; beyond the limits or boundary of somethings; in a position or relation which is exterior to something; -- opposed to in or into. The something may be expressed after of, from, etc. (see Out of, below); or, if not expressed, it is implied; as, he is out; or, he is out of the house, office, business, etc.; he came out; or, he came out from the ship, meeting, sect, party, etc.
Away; abroad; off; from home, or from a certain, or a usual, place; not in; not in a particular, or a usual, place; as, the proprietor is out, his team was taken out. Opposite of in.
He hath been out (of the country) nine years.
Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual or figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; a matter of public knowledge; as, the sun shines out; he laughed out, to be out at the elbows; the secret has leaked out, or is out; the disease broke out on his face; the book is out.
Leaves are out and perfect in a month.
She has not been out [in general society] very long.
Beyond the limit of existence, continuance, or supply; to the end; completely; hence, in, or into, a condition of extinction, exhaustion, completion; as, the fuel, or the fire, has burned out; that style is on the way out.
Deceitful men shall not live out half their days.
When the butt is out, we will drink water.
Beyond possession, control, or occupation; hence, in, or into, a state of want, loss, or deprivation; -- used of office, business, property, knowledge, etc.; as, the Democrats went out and the Whigs came in; he put his money out at interest.
I have forgot my part, and I am out.
Beyond the bounds of what is true, reasonable, correct, proper, common, etc.; in error or mistake; in a wrong or incorrect position or opinion; in a state of disagreement, opposition, etc.; in an inharmonious relation.
Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest.
Very seldom out, in these his guesses.
Not in the position to score in playing a game; not in the state or turn of the play for counting or gaining scores.
Out of fashion; unfashionable; no longer in current vogue; unpopular.
Three fishers went sailing out into the west,
Out into the west, as the sun went down.
Phrases & Compounds
Day in, day out
from the beginning to the limit of each of several days; day by day; every day.
Out at
elliptical phrases, that to which out refers as a source, origin, etc., being omitted; as, out (of the house and) at the barn; out (of the house, road, fields, etc., and) in the woods.
Out from
a construction similar to out of (below). See Of and From.
Out of
a phrase which may be considered either as composed of an adverb and a preposition, each having its appropriate office in the sentence, or as a compound preposition. Considered as a preposition, it denotes, with verbs of movement or action, from the interior of; beyond the limit: from; hence, origin, source, motive, departure, separation, loss, etc.; -- opposed to in or into; also with verbs of being, the state of being derived, removed, or separated from. Examples may be found in the phrases below, and also under Vocabulary words; as, out of breath; out of countenance.
beyond the doors; from the house; not inside a building; in, or into, the open air; hence, figuratively, shut out; dismissed. See under Door, also, Out-of-door, Outdoor, Outdoors, in the Vocabulary.
Out of favor
disliked; under displeasure.
Out of frame
not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged.
Out of hand
immediately; without delay or preparation; without hesitation or debate; as, to dismiss a suggestion out of hand.
Out of harm's way
beyond the danger limit; in a safe place.
Out of joint
not in proper connection or adjustment; unhinged; disordered.
Out of mind
not in mind; forgotten; also, beyond the limit of memory; as, time out of mind.
Out of one's head
beyond commanding one's mental powers; in a wandering state mentally; delirious.
Out of one's time
beyond one's period of minority or apprenticeship.
Out of order
not in proper order; disarranged; in confusion.
Out of place
not in the usual or proper place; hence, not proper or becoming.
Out of pocket
in a condition of having expended or lost more money than one has received.
Out of print
not in market, the edition printed being exhausted; -- said of books, pamphlets, etc.
Out of the question
beyond the limits or range of consideration; impossible to be favorably considered.
Out of reach
beyond one's reach; inaccessible.
Out of season
not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune.
Out of sorts
wanting certain things; unsatisfied; unwell; unhappy; cross. See under Sort, n.
Out of temper
not in good temper; irritated; angry.
Out of time
not in proper time; too soon, or too late.
Out of time
not in harmony; discordant; hence, not in an agreeing temper; fretful.
Out of twist
not in warped condition; perfectly plain and smooth; -- said of surfaces.
Out of use
not in use; unfashionable; obsolete.
Out of the way
On one side; hard to reach or find; secluded.
Out of the woods
not in a place, or state, of obscurity or doubt; free from difficulty or perils; safe.
Out to out
from one extreme limit to another, including the whole length, breadth, or thickness; -- applied to measurements.
One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office; -- generally in the plural.
A place or space outside of something; a nook or corner; an angle projecting outward; an open space; -- chiefly used in the phrase ins and outs; as, the ins and outs of a question. See under In.
A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission. (Print.)
Phrases & Compounds
To make an out
to omit something, in setting or correcting type, which was in the copy.
Out
v. t.
To cause to be out; to eject; to expel.
A king outed from his country.
The French have been outed of their holds.
To come out with; to make known.
To give out; to dispose of; to sell. [Obs.]
To make public a secret of (a person); -- used especially of publicizing the fact that a person is homosexual; as, the gay members were not pleased to be outed by the investigator.
[The play In and Out was] ... inspired by the way Tom Hanks clumsily outed his high school drama teacher during his Oscar-acceptance speech for his performance in “Philadelphia”.
Out
v. i.
To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public.
Out
interj.
Expressing impatience, anger, a desire to be rid of; -- with the force of command; go out; begone; away; off.
Out, idle words, servants to shallow fools!
Phrases & Compounds
Out upon!
equivalent to “shame upon!” “away with!” as, out upon you!