# out

/ˈaʊt/ (US) · /ˈaʊt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/out
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. away from the inside

adverb · CEFR A1

moving away from the inside of a place or container.

For teachers: indicating movement from the interior of a space or container to the exterior.

- She opened the cage and the bird flew out into the garden.
- The crowd poured out of the stadium as soon as the final whistle blew, filling the narrow streets with noise.

### 2. not at home or work

adjective · CEFR A1

not in the place where you usually stay, like your home or office.

For teachers: not present in one's usual place of residence or business.

- I called her office, but her secretary said she was out for lunch.
- The manager is currently out on a site visit and is not expected back until late tomorrow afternoon.

Usage: usually follows the verb 'to be'

### 3. available or public

adjective · CEFR A2

available for people to see, buy, or use.

For teachers: released to the public or visible in the environment.

- The new video game comes out next Tuesday.
- The sun finally came out after three days of heavy rain and thick grey clouds.

### 4. no longer burning or working

adjective · CEFR A2

not burning or not shining anymore.

For teachers: extinguished or no longer emitting light or heat.

- The campfire was out by the time we woke up the next morning.
- The power went out across the entire city during the thunderstorm, leaving thousands of homes in total darkness.

### 5. openly LGBTQ+

adjective · CEFR B1

being honest and public about being gay, trans, or another LGBTQ+ identity.

For teachers: open and public regarding one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

- He has been out to his family and friends since he was twenty.
- The documentary explores the challenges faced by athletes who choose to be out in professional sports environments.

### 6. to reveal a secret

verb · CEFR B2

to tell people a secret about someone, especially that they are gay, without their permission.

For teachers: to publicly reveal a secret about someone, particularly their sexual orientation, often without their consent.

- The newspaper was criticised for trying to out the politician.
- The activist was accidentally outed by a former classmate in a social media post that quickly went viral.

Usage: transitive — requires a direct object

### 7. an excuse or escape

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a way to avoid doing something or to escape a difficult situation.

For teachers: a means of exit, escape, or a convenient excuse to avoid an obligation.

- He was looking for an out so he wouldn't have to go to the party.
- The contract was so poorly written that the company found an easy out when the project became too expensive.

### 8. sports dismissal

noun · CEFR B1

a situation in a game like baseball where a player must stop playing for that turn.

For teachers: a state in which a player is removed from play according to the rules of the game.

- The pitcher got the final out of the inning with a fast ball.
- With two outs and the bases loaded, the pressure on the young batter was immense.

### 9. radio communication

interjection · CEFR B2 · Technical

a word used on a radio to say you have finished talking and do not expect an answer.

For teachers: a procedure word used in radio telecommunications to signal the end of a transmission.

- The captain said, 'We are heading home now. Out.'
- The pilot confirmed the coordinates and ended the transmission with a crisp 'Over and out'.

Teaching tip: Explain to students that 'Over' means 'I am finished but I expect you to reply', while 'Out' means 'I am finished and the conversation is over'.

## Examples

- She is out for the evening.
- The company's latest smartphone is out next month, and pre-orders are already high.
- The secret was finally out, spreading through the hushed corridors of power and irrevocably changing the political landscape for everyone involved.

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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.