# outside

/ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. outdoors

adverb · CEFR A1

in or to the open air, not inside a building.

For teachers: situated in or moving toward the open air; external to a building or enclosed structure.

- It was a beautiful day, so the children went outside to play in the garden.
- The temperature dropped significantly once we stepped outside, forcing us to return for our coats before continuing the walk.

### 2. not in

preposition · CEFR A1

on the outer side of something, like a house or a box.

For teachers: positioned on the exterior of a specific container, building, or boundary.

- There is a small wooden bench just outside the front door.
- The security guards remained stationed outside the embassy gates throughout the duration of the protest.

### 3. beyond a limit

preposition · CEFR B2

not included in a particular group, subject, or set of rules.

For teachers: beyond the scope, limits, or boundaries of a non-physical concept or organization.

- This problem is outside my area of expertise, so I cannot help you.
- The legal team argued that the events in question occurred outside the jurisdiction of the local courts.

### 4. external

adjective · CEFR A2

relating to the outer part or surface of something.

For teachers: pertaining to the external surface or the part that faces away from the center.

- The outside walls of the house need a new coat of paint.
- The architect specified a durable stone for the outside cladding to ensure the building could withstand harsh coastal weather.

### 5. from another group

adjective · CEFR B1

coming from a different company or group.

For teachers: originating from or belonging to a separate organization or social circle.

- The company hired an outside consultant to review their finances.
- To ensure a fair result, the board requested an outside audit of the election proceedings.

### 6. slight possibility

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a very small or unlikely chance of something happening.

For teachers: denoting a remote or unlikely possibility; usually collocated with 'chance'.

- There is an outside chance that the flight will be cancelled due to the storm.
- Although he is the underdog, analysts suggest he has an outside chance of winning if the voter turnout is high.

### 7. the outer surface

noun · CEFR A2

the part of something that faces out; the surface you can see from the street.

For teachers: the external part or surface of an object or entity.

- The outside of the fruit is rough, but the inside is very soft.
- From the outside, the warehouse looked abandoned, but the interior had been converted into a modern high-tech laboratory.

## Examples

- The outside of the house is painted white.
- The outside of the fruit is rough and brown, but the inside is sweet and soft.
- Architects often focus on how the outside of a building interacts with the surrounding landscape to create a sense of harmony between the structure and nature.

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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.