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

Everyone’s out of their element, which leads to the game’s most botched (and hysterical) round. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 July 2026

For three years before that, Laura McDonald, a member from Mount Pleasant, had lobbied to keep transgender women out of the group, known as the DAR. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026

Then, in the draft’s fifth round, Kansas City turned its eye to the future, taking running back Emmett Johnson out of Nebraska. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026

Stahl believes conference-wide bargaining is more likely to succeed by taking the athlete-school relationship out of the equation. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 July 2026

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