English Reference
Idiom idiom

camp out

Meaning

To wait or queue for something expected to occur, often overnight.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“Fans camp out to buy tickets for the big concert.”

CONTEXTUAL

“Hundreds of people decided to camp out on the sidewalk just to be the first ones inside the new store.”

COMPLEX

“Determined to secure the latest limited edition device, the dedicated enthusiasts chose to camp out in the cold for two days before the official release.”

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    boot camp

    Any short, often intensive course of training.

  2. 02

    camp as a row of tents

    Very camp, highly campy.

  3. 03

    camp out on

    To exert or maintain control over a website, domain name, wiki page, etc.

Last updated August 10, 2026