ENGLISH
REFERENCE

eat out

phrasal verb.
A1 Beginner Oxford
Definition

phrasal verb. to have a meal at a restaurant instead of at home.

phrasal verb. to consume a meal in a commercial establishment rather than in a domestic setting; intransitive phrasal verb.


SIMPLE

We like to eat out on Friday nights.

CONTEXTUAL

Since they were both too tired to cook after work, they decided to eat out at the new Italian place.

COMPLEX

The rising cost of living has forced many families to reduce how often they eat out, leading to a decline in local restaurant revenue.

  • dine out
  • go out for dinner
  • visit a restaurant
Particles
out
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
eat + out
Usage

this is an intransitive verb, so it does not take a direct object.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'eat in' (to stay home) or 'take out' (to buy food and bring it home); it is one of the earliest phrasal verbs learners encounter.

Pitfall

We ate out a pizza last night.We ate a pizza out last night (or) We went out for a pizza.'eat out' is intransitive and cannot be followed by the food item as a direct object.

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