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Definition out in British English

out adverb, preposition

adverb, preposition
/aʊt/

Out can be used in the following ways:

as an adverb: We went out into the garden.He took out a penknife.

after the verb ‘to be’: You were out when I called.The house was silent and all the lights were out.

in the preposition phrase out of: I got out of bed and went downstairs. In American English and spoken British English out itself is commonly used as a preposition, but many British people consider that this use is not correct: I looked out the window.

1

used for saying that someone leaves their home or place of work in order to visit someone, have a meal, buy something etc

1.1

used for saying that someone leaves their home or place of work in order to visit someone, have a meal, buy something etc

Example

Dr Hammond's out just now, visiting a patient.

Example

Why don't you take Dad out for a drink?

Example

Try to get out and about more - make new friends.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
1.2

leaving a room or building

Example

She went out, slamming the door behind her.

Example

Frank was just coming out of the library.

Example

I followed him out of the door and down the stairs.

Example

'Get out!' she screamed. 'Get out of my house.'

1.3

away from an area, town, or country

Example

Follow the main road out of Newport.

Example

I'll be out of town for a couple of weeks.

Synonyms and related words
away backward outwards
1.4

no longer in prison

Example

a convicted murderer who will be out again in seven or eight years' time

Synonyms and related words
bail bail out bind over
2

from inside a container, hole, or space

2.1

from inside a container, hole, or space

Example

He opened the drawer and took out a large brown envelope.

Example

Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.

2.2

used for saying that something is removed from a place where it was fixed

Example

When I opened the book, I saw that several pages had been torn out.

Example

I had a tooth out this morning.

Example

You'll have to take the four screws out, then you can remove the cover.

Synonyms and related words
about across after
2.3

used for stating where money is taken from

Example

One employer had taken £60,000 out of his company's pension fund.

Example

The money will all come out of my personal bank account.

3

not inside a building

3.1

not inside a building

Example

Is it cold out?

Example

The children are out in the garden.

Example

I was standing out there in the rain.

Synonyms and related words
outwith outside beyond
3.2

from inside a building or vehicle towards something outside

Example

I stood by the window, staring out into the darkness.

Example

He stopped the car, leaned out, and called to me.

4

used for saying that someone or something is in another place far away

4.1

used for saying that someone or something is in another place far away

Example

Her son's gone out to Australia.

Example

They live way out in the countryside.

Example

I wonder if there's life out there on another planet somewhere.

Synonyms and related words
distant far apart
4.2

used for saying how far away from a place something is

Example

The East Midlands airport is just four miles out of Nottingham.

Synonyms and related words
long little away
4.3

used for saying how far away from the coast a boat is

Example

a yacht drifting helplessly 200 miles out in the Atlantic

Synonyms and related words
long little away
5

used for saying that a mark is removed from the surface of something

5.1

used for saying that a mark is removed from the surface of something

Example

Notes in pencil had been rubbed out.

Example

Ink stains will come out if you rub them with vinegar and salt.

5.2

used for saying that something that you do not want is got rid of

Example

Have you thrown out yesterday's paper?

Example

We need to root out racism in the police and army.

5.3

used for saying that someone is forced to leave a group, organization, or job

Example

Frederick was kicked out of the army in 1998.

Example

The union threw out 26 members who refused to join the strike.

6

used for saying that a new product, book, record etc is available for people to buy

Example

It was back in November when the album came out.

Example

In his latest book, out today, he tells of his experiences in the civil war.

Synonyms and related words
for sale out on the open market
7

used for saying that someone is unconscious or is made unconscious

Example

Arthur had hit his head on a beam and knocked himself out.

Example

I must have been out for five minutes before I recovered consciousness.

Synonyms and related words
asleep unconscious comatose
8

used for saying that something is no longer fashionable

Example

This year pink is definitely out.

Example

Nylon shirts went out years ago.

Synonyms and related words
old-fashioned primitive obsolete
9

with none of something left

Example

We're out of toilet paper.

Example

a motorist who had run out of petrol

Example

I'm running out of ideas - can you suggest anything?

Synonyms and related words
finished completed exhausted
10

if the sun or moon is out, it is not behind clouds

10.1

if the sun or moon is out, it is not behind clouds

Example

The rain stopped and the sun came out.

Synonyms and related words
obvious apparent show up rise go down eclipse
10.2

if flowers are out, they have opened

Example

on a spring evening when the tulips are out

Synonyms and related words
open ajar wide
11

used for saying that workers are on strike (=have stopped work in order to protest)

Example

Members of the Engineering Union came out in support of the miners.

Example

Workers at the Solihull factory are still out.

Synonyms and related words
action blackleg break a strike
12

used for saying that someone is not allowed to continue taking part in a competition or series of games, especially because they have been defeated

Example

If we don't win today, we'll be out of the championships.

Synonyms and related words
against by a neck clear
13

no longer burning

13.1

no longer burning

Example

No wonder it's cold in here - you've let the fire go out.

Synonyms and related words
burn out burn down go out
13.2

used for saying that lights have been switched off

Example

The children were in bed and the lights were out.

Example

Many people voted Liberal just to keep the Tories out.

Example

secret efforts to force the President out of power

Synonyms and related words
apolitical bipartisan critic
15

used for saying that a book, DVD etc is not in a library because someone has borrowed it

Example

We do have the book you asked for, but it's out at the moment.

16

if a particular idea, suggestion, or activity is out, it is not possible or it cannot be accepted

Example

I've hurt my back, so gardening is out as far as I'm concerned.

Example

Anything that costs more than £3,000 is out.

Synonyms and related words
impossible unbelievable no-go
17

used for saying that a sound or voice is loud and clear

Example

Church bells rang out across the land.

Example

Someone called out to me from an upstairs window.

Example

Don't whisper, say it out loud so we can all hear.

Synonyms and related words
loud noisy shrill
18

used for saying that a number, calculation, or measurement is not correct

Example

Their calculations were out by about two million pounds.

Example

Paul reckoned we'd need 12 gallons of paint, and he wasn't far out.

Synonyms and related words
incorrect inexact wrong
19

if the tide is out, the sea is at a lower level

Example

Now that the tide was out, we could walk across the sands.

Synonyms and related words
course current down
20

if information is out, it becomes publicly known

Example

At last her secret was out and, of course, there would be a scandal.

Example

The exam results aren't out yet.

Example

So the news has leaked out already, has it?

Synonyms and related words
known overt transparent
21

used for saying that you give or send things to a number of different people

Example

The money will be shared out between 22 different charities.

Example

Have you sent out the invitations yet?

22

if a player or team is out during a game of cricket or baseball, they are no longer batting

Example

The West Indies Team were all out before lunch.

Synonyms and related words
balk ballpark base the Ashes at stumps bail
23

used for saying that the bones in your back have moved and it is very painful

Example

Dad threw his back out moving the sofa.

Synonyms and related words
ankle backbone ball-and-socket joint
24

used for saying that a machine or a piece of electrical equipment is not working

Example

The copy machine is out again.

Synonyms and related words
all-singing, all-dancing analog analogue
25

used for saying that someone is no longer in a bad situation

Example

Parents will be relieved that their children are out of danger.

Example

Stacey will be allowed to go free on condition that he stays out of trouble for a year.

Example

Everyone was fighting everyone else - I'm glad to be out of it.

Example

We are facing a major crisis and there is no easy way out.

Definition out in British English

Related Words

Words related to out:

ace out (phrasal verb) act out (phrasal verb) all out (phrase) all-out (adjective) ask out (phrasal verb) back out (phrasal verb) bail out (phrasal verb) bale out (phrasal verb) bang out (phrasal verb) bash out (phrasal verb) bawl out (phrasal verb) bear out (phrasal verb) beat out (phrasal verb) bed out (phrasal verb) belt out (phrasal verb) blot out (phrasal verb) blow out (phrasal verb) bomb out (phrasal verb) book out (verb) boot out (phrasal verb) bow out (phrasal verb) bowl out (phrasal verb) bug out (phrasal verb) bum out (phrasal verb) burn out (phrasal verb) bust out (phrasal verb) butt out (phrasal verb) buy out (phrasal verb) call out (phrasal verb) call-out (noun) camp out (phrasal verb) cast out (phrasal verb) chew out (phrasal verb) clap out (phrasal verb) comb out (phrasal verb) come out (phrasal verb) conk out (phrasal verb) cop out (phrasal verb) cop-out (noun) copy out (phrasal verb) cry out (phrasal verb) cuss out (phrasal verb) cut out (phrasal verb) deal out (phrasal verb) deck out (phrasal verb) die out (phrasal verb) dig out (phrasal verb) dime out (phrasal verb) dine out (phrasal verb) dip out (phrasal verb) do out (phrasal verb) drag out (phrasal verb) draw out (phrasal verb) drop out (phrasal verb) drum out (phrasal verb) dry out (phrasal verb) dub out (phrasal verb) duck out (phrasal verb) ease out (phrasal verb) eat out (phrasal verb) edge out (phrasal verb) edit out (phrasal verb) even out (phrasal verb) fade out (phrasal verb) fake out (phrasal verb) fall out (phrasal verb) fan out (phrasal verb) far-out (adjective) farm out (phrasal verb) feel out (phrasal verb) fill out (phrasal verb) find out (phrasal verb) fish out (phrasal verb) fit out (phrasal verb) flat out (phrase) flip out (phrasal verb) fold-out (adjective) fork out (phrasal verb) gasp out (phrasal verb) get out (phrasal verb) get-out (adjective) give out (phrasal verb) go out (phrasal verb) grey out (phrasal verb) grow out (phrasal verb) gut out (phrasal verb) hand out (phrasal verb) hang out (phrasal verb) have out (phrasal verb) hear out (phrasal verb) help out (phrasal verb) hide out (phrasal verb) hire out (phrasal verb) hit out (phrasal verb) out (adverb, preposition) out (adjective) out (verb) out (noun) out cold (phrase) out- (prefix)