output

1 of 2

noun

out·​put ˈau̇t-ˌpu̇t 

1

: something produced: such as

a

: mineral, agricultural, or industrial production

steel output

b

: mental or artistic production

literary output

c

: the amount produced by a person in a given time

d

: power or energy produced or delivered by a machine or system (as for storage or for conversion in kind or in characteristics)

generator output

solar X-ray output

e

: the information produced by a computer

2

: the act, process, or an instance of producing

3

: the terminal for the output on an electrical device

output

2 of 2

verb

outputted or output; outputting

transitive verb

: to produce as output

Synonyms

Noun

• affair
• fruit
• handiwork
• labor
• produce
• product
• production
• thing
• work
• yield

Examples of output in a Sentence

Noun

stars with large energy outputs

The computer's output is shown on this screen.

outputs of up to 400 watts

the television's video and audio outputs

Verb

Computers output data very quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The country had a lot of hydropower, but years of drought in the 1990s and 2000s slashed the dams’ output. —Delger Erdenesanaa, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

The nation’s gross domestic product, or total economic output, likely expanded by a robust 3% in the first quarter, according to analysts’ forecasts. —Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1858, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

output

1 of 2 noun

out·​put ˈau̇t-ˌpu̇t 

1

: something produced: as

a

: agricultural or industrial production

steel output

b

: mental or artistic production

writing output

c

: the amount produced by a person in a given time

d

: power or energy delivered or produced by a machine or system

light output of the sun

e

: the information produced by a computer

2

: a point at which something (as power, an electronic signal, or data) comes out

output

2 of 2 verb

outputted or output; outputting

: to produce as output

Medical Definition

output

noun

out·​put ˈau̇t-ˌpu̇t 

: the amount of energy or matter discharged usually within a specified time by a bodily system or organ

renal output

urinary output

see cardiac output