out Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (baseball) a failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball
    • you only get 3 outs per inning
  2. verb to state openly and publicly one's homosexuality
    come out of the closet; come out.
    • This actor outed last year
  3. verb reveal (something) about somebody's identity or lifestyle
    • The gay actor was outed last week
    • Someone outed a CIA agent
  4. verb be made known; be disclosed or revealed
    come out.
    • The truth will out
  5. adjective not allowed to continue to bat or run
    • he was tagged out at second on a close play
    • he fanned out
  6. adjective satellite being out or having grown cold
    extinct.
    • threw his extinct cigarette into the stream
    • the fire is out
  7. adjective satellite not worth considering as a possibility
    • a picnic is out because of the weather
  8. adjective satellite out of power; especially having been unsuccessful in an election
    • now the Democrats are out
  9. adjective satellite excluded from use or mention
    proscribed; forbidden; tabu; prohibited; verboten; taboo.
    • forbidden fruit
    • in our house dancing and playing cards were out
    • a taboo subject
  10. adjective satellite directed outward or serving to direct something outward
    • the out doorway
    • the out basket
  11. adjective satellite no longer fashionable
    • that style is out these days
  12. adjective satellite outside or external
    • the out surface of a ship's hull
  13. adjective satellite outer or outlying
    • the out islands
  14. adjective satellite knocked unconscious by a heavy blow
    kayoed; knocked out; stunned; KO'd.
  15. adverb away from home
    • they went out last night
  16. adverb moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden;
    • the cat came out from under the bed
  17. adverb from one's possession
    away.
    • he gave out money to the poor
    • gave away the tickets

WordNet

Out adverb
Etymology
OE. out, ut, oute, ute, AS. t, and te, tan, fr. t; akin to D. uit, OS. t, G. aus, OHG. -z, Icel. t, Sw. ut, Dan. ud, Goth. ut, Skr. ud. 198. Cf. About, But, prep., Carouse, Utter, a.
Definitions
  1. 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. Out is used in a variety of applications, as: --
  2. 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. "My shoulder blade is out." Shak.
    He hath been out (of the country) nine years. Shak.
  3. Beyond the limits of concealment, confinement, privacy, constraint, etc., actual of figurative; hence, not in concealment, constraint, etc., in, or into, a state of freedom, openness, disclosure, publicity, etc.; 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. Bacon.
    She has not been out [in general society] very long. H. James.
  4. 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. "Hear me out." Dryden.
    Deceitiful men shall not live out half their days. Ps. iv. 23.
    When the butt is out, we will drink water. Shak.
  5. 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. "Land that is out at rack rent." Locke. "He was out fifty pounds." Bp. Fell.
    I have forgot my part, and I am out. Shak.
  6. 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. "Lancelot and I are out." Shak.
    Wicked men are strangely out in the calculating of their own interest. South.
    Very seldom out, in these his guesses. Addison.
  7. 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 is largely used in composition as a prefix, with the same significations that it has as a separate word; as outbound, outbreak, outbuilding, outcome, outdo, outdoor, outfield. See also the first Note under Over, adv.
Out noun
Definitions
  1. One who, or that which, is out; especially, one who is out of office; -- generally in the plural.
  2. 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.
  3. (Print.) A word or words omitted by the compositor in setting up copy; an omission.
Out transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to be out; to eject; to expel.
    A king outed from his country. Selden.
    The French have been outed of their holds. Heylin.
  2. To come out with; to make known. Obs. Chaucer.
  3. To give out; to dispose of; to sell. Obs. Chaucer.
Out intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come or go out; to get out or away; to become public. "Truth will out." Shak.
Out interjection
Definitions
  1. 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 ! Shak.

Webster 1913