out·side
ˌau̇t-ˈsīd 
ˈau̇t-ˌsīd
1
a
: a place or region beyond an enclosure or boundary: such as
(1)
: the world beyond the confines of an institution (such as a prison)
(2)
often capitalized in Alaska
: the world beyond the territory or state of Alaska
especially
: the 48 contiguous states
b
: the area farthest from a specified point of reference: such as
(1)
: the side of home plate farthest from the batter
(2)
: the part of a playing area toward the sidelines
(3)
: the part of a playing area away from the goal
2
: an outer side or surface
3
: an outer manifestation : appearance
4
: the extreme limit of a guess : maximum
the crowd numbered 10,000 at the outside
1
a
: of, relating to, or being on or toward the outer side or surface
the outside edge
b
: of, relating to, or being on or toward the outer side of a curve or turn
c
: of, relating to, or being on or near the outside
an outside pitch
2
a
: situated or performed outside a particular place
b
: connected with or giving access to the outside
outside telephone line
3
: maximum
4
a
: not included or originating in a particular group or organization
blamed the riot on outside agitators
b
: not belonging to one's regular occupation or duties
outside interests
5
: barely possible : remote
an outside chance
6
: made or done from the outside
borrowed a basketball and practiced his outside shot
1
—used as a function word to indicate movement to or position on the outer side of
2
: beyond the limits of
outside the scope of this report
outside the law
3
: except
Synonyms
Noun
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Examples of outside in a Sentence
Noun
The house looks nice from the outside.
painted the outside of the house
Adjective
the outside edge of the foot
She turned on the outside light to see what was making the noise.
The phone will not let you make outside calls.
The company hired an outside consultant.
a businessman with few outside interests besides golf
There were outside influences that affected his decision to retire early.
Adverb
The children love playing outside.
It's nice outside, with not a cloud in the sky.
He ran outside to see what the noise was about.
He looked outside at the snow.
The candy was hard outside but chewy inside.
The car seemed in good condition outside.
Preposition
We waited outside the store.
He kept his hands outside his pockets.
There was a dog barking outside the house.
She finished the race five seconds outside the record.
We live outside the city.
I have never traveled outside the U.S. before.
No one outside the group knew of their plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
Most recipes tell you to stir or flip vegetables halfway through cooking, but this could result in only slightly golden outsides and potentially dry insides.
—Ali Slagle, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Bronze made an appearance next alongside his mom and sister in a second video as the trio snacked on snow cones while sitting on a bench outside.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Herro’s return adds scoring and outside shooting to a Heat rotation that needs his offensive skill set during its late-season push to avoid the NBA’s play-in tournament.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Despite the February slush outside, bouquets of orange ranunculus adorned the tables.
—Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024
Hoist the Gold broke on top with National Treasure setting up on his outside.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2024
Southwest’s 11 outside board members (not including the company’s current and former chief executives or the directors elected this year) received average compensation of nearly $300,000 each in cash and stock grants last year.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The country singer's wife Katelyn, 31, shared an adorable photo of her family of four on her Instagram on Wednesday, posing with Kane, 30, and their two kids on a bench outside.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024
Amidst the loss of his privilege and outside passions – such as his beloved piano – he is thrust into a new reality with the diverse clientele of the detention center.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Just weeks ago, Rundle rebuffed a call from a Miami group of criminal defense attorneys for an outside look at prosecutors’ handling of cases, after two prosecutors were thrown off a high-profile murder case by the judge.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Free cash flow, another profitability metric that shows a company’s ability to finance its business without the need for outside funding and is a big focus for WBD management, jumped 86 percent to $6.2 billion.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
The Chargers trading out of the No. 5 spot, at least if the overwhelming outside speculation is correct.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Our outside patio is open seating and beverage service only.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2024
And these incumbents will have the resources necessary to combat high spending by challengers and outside groups, which is meaningful.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2024
Be true to yourself and refuse to let the past, outside influences or negative people disrupt your plans, and something good will manifest.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
Her husband, Willie Lucas, along with some of the hospital staff, peered at the eclipse outside, while Ashley caught a glimpse from the window.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside.
—Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
Style it in a lace fabric or perhaps a breathable cotton fabric if the wedding is outside.
—Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Student Grace Wheeler said her professor encouraged students to get outside and see the eclipse.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
There are about six tables to sit inside, but most people, like myself, like to sit outside to breathe in this taco shop culture.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit, which was withdrawn after the agreement was made, stated that prison officials announced that inmates would not be allowed outside to view the eclipse and that the facility would be operating on a holiday schedule that day, NBC reported.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Rooms have been refreshed with modern, soothing tones of turquoise and cream, which seem to reflect the beach and Arabian Gulf right outside.
—Michele Robson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In the past, Trump has chosen to appear at some court proceedings he wasn't required to attend, often holding press conferences with reporters outside the courtrooms.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Reed’s death has once again reignited debate and anger over police brutality and excessive use of force in the United States, prompting protests outside a Chicago police station this week, with activists, residents and family members calling for justice.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
When Kirill arrived outside the Phanar, a crowd of Ukrainian protesters had already gathered around the compound’s beige stone walls.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Another incident outside Zabana a year before also resulted in a man's death.
—Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 9 Apr. 2024
There was little room for the tens of thousands of employees working outside the U.S.
Montañez: What's your advice for leaders who want to create effective diversity hiring programs?
—Rachel Montañez, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Biden said concerns over the riot reverberated outside the U.S., with foreign leaders questioning the stability of the U.S. democracy.
—Colleen Long, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Police located Grant outside the trailer, with blood still on him, according to the court documents.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
Freeman joins linebacker Eric Kendricks as just the second outside free agent to sign with the Cowboys.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2024
Most recipes tell you to stir or flip vegetables halfway through cooking, but this could result in only slightly golden outsides and potentially dry insides.
—Ali Slagle, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024
Bronze made an appearance next alongside his mom and sister in a second video as the trio snacked on snow cones while sitting on a bench outside.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
Herro’s return adds scoring and outside shooting to a Heat rotation that needs his offensive skill set during its late-season push to avoid the NBA’s play-in tournament.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
Despite the February slush outside, bouquets of orange ranunculus adorned the tables.
—Vogue, 14 Feb. 2024
Hoist the Gold broke on top with National Treasure setting up on his outside.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2024
Southwest’s 11 outside board members (not including the company’s current and former chief executives or the directors elected this year) received average compensation of nearly $300,000 each in cash and stock grants last year.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023
The country singer's wife Katelyn, 31, shared an adorable photo of her family of four on her Instagram on Wednesday, posing with Kane, 30, and their two kids on a bench outside.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 14 Dec. 2023
Adjective
However, since Hipgnosis Songs Fund investors served the board of directors the equivalent of a no-confidence vote last fall, this option has presented hurdles for the board in its effort to secure outside bids for the portfolio.
—Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024
Amidst the loss of his privilege and outside passions – such as his beloved piano – he is thrust into a new reality with the diverse clientele of the detention center.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Just weeks ago, Rundle rebuffed a call from a Miami group of criminal defense attorneys for an outside look at prosecutors’ handling of cases, after two prosecutors were thrown off a high-profile murder case by the judge.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
Free cash flow, another profitability metric that shows a company’s ability to finance its business without the need for outside funding and is a big focus for WBD management, jumped 86 percent to $6.2 billion.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024
The Chargers trading out of the No. 5 spot, at least if the overwhelming outside speculation is correct.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Our outside patio is open seating and beverage service only.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2024
And these incumbents will have the resources necessary to combat high spending by challengers and outside groups, which is meaningful.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2024
Be true to yourself and refuse to let the past, outside influences or negative people disrupt your plans, and something good will manifest.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm:
• To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
Her husband, Willie Lucas, along with some of the hospital staff, peered at the eclipse outside, while Ashley caught a glimpse from the window.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
The eclipse's peak will mean something different for cities within the path of totality and for those outside.
—Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
Style it in a lace fabric or perhaps a breathable cotton fabric if the wedding is outside.
—Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Student Grace Wheeler said her professor encouraged students to get outside and see the eclipse.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024
There are about six tables to sit inside, but most people, like myself, like to sit outside to breathe in this taco shop culture.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit, which was withdrawn after the agreement was made, stated that prison officials announced that inmates would not be allowed outside to view the eclipse and that the facility would be operating on a holiday schedule that day, NBC reported.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Rooms have been refreshed with modern, soothing tones of turquoise and cream, which seem to reflect the beach and Arabian Gulf right outside.
—Michele Robson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Preposition
The reforms contain lots of other controversial measures, including sending money outside the bloc to encourage other countries to stop migration into the EU and the possibility of offshoring processing.
—Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
In the past, Trump has chosen to appear at some court proceedings he wasn't required to attend, often holding press conferences with reporters outside the courtrooms.
—Nik Popli, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Reed’s death has once again reignited debate and anger over police brutality and excessive use of force in the United States, prompting protests outside a Chicago police station this week, with activists, residents and family members calling for justice.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
When Kirill arrived outside the Phanar, a crowd of Ukrainian protesters had already gathered around the compound’s beige stone walls.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Another incident outside Zabana a year before also resulted in a man's death.
—Ron Wood, arkansasonline.com, 9 Apr. 2024
There was little room for the tens of thousands of employees working outside the U.S.
Montañez: What's your advice for leaders who want to create effective diversity hiring programs?
—Rachel Montañez, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Biden said concerns over the riot reverberated outside the U.S., with foreign leaders questioning the stability of the U.S. democracy.
—Colleen Long, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2024
Police located Grant outside the trailer, with blood still on him, according to the court documents.
—The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near outside
Cite this Entry
“Outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outside. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outside
1 of 4 noun
out·side
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈsīd
ˈau̇t-ˌsīd
1
: a place or region beyond an enclosure or boundary
2
: an outer side or surface
3
: the extreme limit of a guess : most
the crowd numbered 10,000 at the outside
outside
2 of 4 adjective1
: of, relating to, or being on the outside
the outside edge
2
: connected with or leading to the outside
an outside door
3
: coming from outside
outside influences
4
: barely possible : remote
an outside chance
outside
3 of 4 adverb
: on or to the outside
waited outside in the hall
outside
4 of 4 preposition1
: on or to the outside of
outside the house
2
: beyond the limits of
outside the law
3
: except entry 1 sense 2, besides
nobody outside a few close friends
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