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

see also out of it

Examples of out of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many caregivers for adults with neurodevelopmental disorders struggle to find resources after their children age out of pediatric care. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Dec. 2025

The large populations are clustered around colonies of Magellanic penguins that live on the coast for six months out of the year -- from about September to March, Emiliano Donadio, an ecologist and science director of Rewild Argentina, a conservation nonprofit, told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 Dec. 2025

The guy's out of his car, one's in his car. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 17 Dec. 2025

Johnson said the attack has shaken the community, and authorities have increased patrols in city parks out of an abundance of caution. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 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