# mark out

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mark-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to show that someone or something is different or special. You can also use it to draw lines that show the borders of a space.

For teachers: to distinguish a person or thing as being different from others, typically by a specific quality. It also functions to delineate the physical boundaries of an area.

## Examples

- His talent for music marks him out from the other students.
- Before the construction began, the workers had to mark out the area where the new garage would be built.
- The author's unique prose style and unflinching social commentary mark her out as one of the most significant voices of her generation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He marks out because of his red hair." but "He stands out because of his red hair." — 'Mark out' is transitive and requires an object to be distinguished, whereas 'stand out' is intransitive.

## Usage notes

- When used to mean 'distinguish', it often takes the preposition 'from' or 'as'.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'stand out'; 'mark out' is transitive and focuses on the quality that makes the object different.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.