Word
outlay
Phoneticsout·lay, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈaʊtˌɫeɪ/
UK/ˈaʊtleɪ/
Countable nounIrregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
outlay
Past
outlaid
Past participle
outlaid
Definition
n. the total amount of money you spend on something. It is often used when talking about a large expense, like buying a house or starting a business.
n. the total sum of money spent on a particular project or venture. Often used in financial or business contexts to describe initial capital expenditure.
Examples
“The initial outlay for the new factory was very high.”
“The company managed to recoup its initial outlay within six months of launching the new product line.”
“While the initial outlay for renewable energy infrastructure remains significant, the long-term savings on fuel costs often justify the investment for large-scale industrial operations.”
Examples
simple
“The initial outlay for the new factory was very high.”
contextual
“The company managed to recoup its initial outlay within six months of launching the new product line.”
complex
“While the initial outlay for renewable energy infrastructure remains significant, the long-term savings on fuel costs often justify the investment for large-scale industrial operations.”
Real-World Examples
“On top of the purchase price, FSG have since facilitated intra-group loans of about £218m, meaning a total outlay of about £518m.” “The financial outlay can also be relatively small.” “Bettmann via Getty Images These changes have helped the school carry on, but they also have kept outlays lower than the budget.” Etymology
From out- + lay.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/outlay