out of

preposition

1

a(1)

—used as a function word to indicate direction or movement from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke up out of a deep sleep

came out of retirement

a book that is out of print [=a book that is no longer being printed]

b(1)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or situation beyond the range, limits, or sphere of

out of control

went in to get out of the rain

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or state away from the usual or expected

out of practice

The big table looks out of place here.

settled the matter out of court [=settled by coming to an agreement without a trial or a decision by a judge]

The car came out of nowhere! [=the car was there suddenly and unexpectedly.]

2

—used as a function word to indicate origin, source, or cause

a remarkable colt out of an ordinary mare

got the idea out of a book

built out of old lumber

fled out of fear

3

—used as a function word to indicate exclusion from or deprivation of

cheated him out of his savings

out of breath

4

—used as a function word to indicate a lack of something

Are we out of milk?

I ran out of time.

He was out of breath after running.

5

—used as a function word to indicate choice or selection from a group

one out of four survived

6

—used as a function word to indicate the center of an enterprise or activity

runs her business out of her home

Phrases

out of it

1

: not part of a group, activity, or fashion

2

: in a dazed or confused state

Examples of out of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The winds will shift out of the south-southwest, allowing highs to rise closer to the mid-80s on Sunday. —Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

But Richardson's leadership was questioned by members of Congress and FEMA employees, particularly after remaining largely out of sight after the deadly Texas floods last July that killed at least 136 people. —NPR, 18 Nov. 2025

The top seeds sailed through, YA won all its match-ups, and the plagiarists couldn’t deceive their way out of round one. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Nov. 2025

Getting in and out of an off-road vehicle sometimes presented a challenge. —Maya Silver, Outside, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for out of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove

Kids Definition

out of

preposition

1

a

: from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

b

—used to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke out of a deep sleep

c

: beyond the range or limits of

moved out of sight

2

: because of, from

fled out of fear

3

—used to indicate source, material, or cause

built out of old lumber

4

—used to indicate the state or condition of being without something especially that was there before

the store is out of bread

cheated us out of our savings

5

: from among

one out of four survived

6

—used to indicate the center of a business or activity

runs her business out of her home