mark out
phrasal verb
marked out; marking out; marks out
1
: to indicate (a route on a map) with marks
I have marked out the best way to get to my ranch.
2
: to draw lines around (something) so that it can be clearly seen
He marked out his mining claim.
3
: to plan the details of (a course of action)
She talked about the course the European Union has marked out for itself.
4
chiefly British
: to show that (someone or something) is special or different in some way
Her very first book marked her out as a great poet.
She was marked out for greatness.
Examples of mark out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Johns told Fortune that Gravis’ technology aims to address such concerns by reducing risky tasks, like surveying or marking out work areas, while keeping humans in control.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Many megalithic sites are by the sea, marking out a maritime network that stretched from Iberia and France to Ireland and the British Isles.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The 35-year-old stands at around 6ft (183cm) and has nothing of the obvious strength and power in his wiry frame that marks out most of the very best quick men.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Greek and Roman texts both mark out the civility of their own culture in this way.
—Literary Hub, 31 Oct. 2025
Researchers could run a measuring wheel across an animal’s hide and mark out units in chalk, or skin the creature and measure its surface area by hand.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Oct. 2025
Laid flat, those lapels could mark out a landing zone for a chopper under automatic ground fire.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Thanks to the Internet, and streaming service focus on stars to mark out one film from another, stars are still hugely important, and their comments reverberated around the globe.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
To visualize the fit before buying, use painter’s tape to mark out the rug’s dimensions.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2025
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Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
Many megalithic sites are by the sea, marking out a maritime network that stretched from Iberia and France to Ireland and the British Isles.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
The 35-year-old stands at around 6ft (183cm) and has nothing of the obvious strength and power in his wiry frame that marks out most of the very best quick men.
—Paul Newman, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Greek and Roman texts both mark out the civility of their own culture in this way.
—Literary Hub, 31 Oct. 2025
Researchers could run a measuring wheel across an animal’s hide and mark out units in chalk, or skin the creature and measure its surface area by hand.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Oct. 2025
Laid flat, those lapels could mark out a landing zone for a chopper under automatic ground fire.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Thanks to the Internet, and streaming service focus on stars to mark out one film from another, stars are still hugely important, and their comments reverberated around the globe.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
To visualize the fit before buying, use painter’s tape to mark out the rug’s dimensions.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mark out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mark%20out. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.
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