# sign out

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to record that you are leaving a building or to end your session on a computer or website.

For teachers: to record one's departure from a physical location or to terminate a session in a digital environment. It is often used intransitively or followed by the preposition 'of' when referring to a system.

## Examples

- Please sign out at the front desk before you leave.
- For security reasons, the system will automatically sign you out after ten minutes of inactivity.
- The night shift supervisor reminded the staff that failing to sign out of the secure server could lead to a significant data breach.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I forgot to sign out the website." but "I forgot to sign out of the website." — The phrasal verb requires the preposition 'of' when followed by the name of a digital platform or account.

## Usage notes

- Use 'sign out of' when mentioning a specific website or computer program.
- Teaching tip: Compare with 'log out' for digital contexts and 'check out' for hotels; 'sign out' is the standard term for visitor logs in offices.

---

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.