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 four-year deal for Wattenberg, a 2022 fifth-round pick of the Broncos out of Washington, is for $48 million and comes with $27 million guaranteed, the source confirmed. —Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 26 Nov. 2025

Purdy’s first interception gave Carolina the ball in San Francisco territory, and Mustapha made a touchdown-saving tackle at the 1-yard line when Young took off out of the pocket. —Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2025

Another image hanging on a bicycle road sign depicted a fist holding a smoking pistol to the head of someone in a Ku Klux Klan hood as blood squirts out of the figure's head. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 25 Nov. 2025

Protein also stimulates the release of the hormone insulin, which moves sugar into your cells and out of your bloodstream, Berry says. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 25 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