Out Meaning
Out Definition & Usage
Moving away from a point of origin or inside a space.
Examples
- "She stepped out of the house and into the garden."
- "The children ran out into the street."
- "He jumped out of the car before it stopped."
- "I’ll be out of the office by 5 PM."
- "They went out for a walk after dinner."
Not present or no longer available.
Examples
- "I called, but he’s out right now."
- "Sorry, the item is out of stock."
- "She’s out for lunch and won’t be back until 2."
- "He’s out of the country for a week."
- "The light went out during the storm."
To make something known or reveal information, especially something previously hidden.
Examples
- "The truth finally came out after the investigation."
- "He outed himself as a member of the secret society."
- "She outed the politician’s scandalous behavior."
- "The reporter’s article helped to out the corruption in the city government."
- "It was later outed that the actor had been secretly married."
To surpass or do better than a competitor or previous performance.
Examples
- "His performance in the race outdid everyone else’s."
- "The team’s record this year has outshone all previous seasons."
- "Her accomplishments in the field of science have outstripped those of her peers."
- "The new product has outpaced its competitors in sales."
- "The movie outperformed all expectations at the box office."
Cultural Context
The word 'out' has Old English origins ('ut') and has been in continuous use in the English language for over a thousand years. Its versatility allows it to be used in various contexts from literal movement to more abstract concepts like disclosure or surpassing expectations.
The Great Escape
Story
The Great Escape
On a chilly autumn morning, Sarah stood at the door, staring at the vast landscape outside her house. She had been thinking about this day for weeks – the day she would finally escape the monotony of city life. As she stepped out onto the porch, the wind caught her hair and swept it back, a symbol of freedom. She looked back one last time, at the quiet home she was leaving behind. Her friend, Emily, had already packed the car and was waiting for her in the driver’s seat. 'Are you ready to go out on an adventure?' Emily asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 'Definitely,' Sarah replied. 'It’s time for a change.' They drove off, the city skyline growing smaller in the rearview mirror. Along the way, they made stops to explore small towns, go hiking, and try new foods. Every day felt like a fresh start. But it wasn’t just the travel that felt like a revelation. During one stop, they met an old journalist who had worked for decades uncovering secrets that had been long buried. 'You know,' he said to them, 'sometimes you have to go out and find the truth, even when it’s hiding.' Sarah was intrigued by his words. As they continued their journey, Sarah began to see the world differently. She understood that going out meant more than just escaping; it meant pushing boundaries, exceeding expectations, and discovering things hidden from plain sight. One day, they were in a remote village when Emily pointed out a new art gallery. It was a modern, vibrant space that had outdone all the other places they had seen so far. By the end of their trip, Sarah had not only traveled 'out' of her comfort zone but also discovered what it meant to truly be 'out'—free from constraints and with a new sense of purpose. In the end, she returned home, but her perspective had shifted. She was no longer the same person who had stepped out the door months earlier. She had gone 'out' into the world, found herself, and outdone her past self.
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