Phrasal verb
map out
Definition
phrasal verb. to plan something in detail so you know exactly what to do.
phrasal verb. to plan or delineate a route, arrangement, or course of action in a systematic and detailed manner. Transitive; often used for abstract planning rather than physical cartography.
Examples
“We need to map out our strategy for the next year.”
“Before starting the project, the team met to map out the key milestones and deadlines.”
“The urban planners spent months mapping out the infrastructure requirements for the proposed residential district to ensure long-term sustainability.”
Examples
simple
“We need to map out our strategy for the next year.”
contextual
“Before starting the project, the team met to map out the key milestones and deadlines.”
complex
“The urban planners spent months mapping out the infrastructure requirements for the proposed residential district to ensure long-term sustainability.”
Usage
The object can be placed between 'map' and 'out' or after the particle.
Teaching tip
Use the physical metaphor of a map to help students visualize the act of organizing a complex future task into clear, visible steps.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
map + (object) + out + (object)