outside — English Dictionary

outside
Pronunciations (12)
  • /aʊtˈsaɪd/
  • /ˈaʊt.saɪd/
  • /ˈaʊt.sɑɪd/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Ireland
  • /ˈæʊ.so̞ɪd/
  • /ˈæʊ.səɪd/
  • /ˈɛʊ.so̞ɪd/
  • /ˈɛʊ.səɪd/
  • /ˈæʊʔ.so̞ɪd/
  • /ˈæʊʔ.səɪd/
  • /ˈɛʊʔ.so̞ɪd/
  • /ˈɛʊʔ.səɪd/
  • ˈaʊtsaɪd

Noun

  1. The part of something that faces out; the outer surface.

    Examples

    He's repainting the outside of his house.

    More examples (1)

    Silenes of old swere little boxes, like those we now may see in the shops of apothecaries, painted on the outside with wanton toyish figures, as harpies, satyrs, bridled geese, horned hares, saddled ducks, flying goats, thiller harts, and other such-like counterfeited pictures at discretion, ...

    The outside of the building gives no valuable clew.

    More examples (2)

    The number of persons which the cab is licensed to carry must be painted at the back on the outside.

    Third-class carriages are grossly overcrowded, with passengers lying on the luggage racks, standing between the benches, and occasionally even riding on the footboards and clinging to the outsides of the coaches for short distances.

  2. The external appearance of someone or something.

    Examples

    Her outside was stern, but inside was a heart of gold.

  3. The space beyond some limit or boundary.

    Examples

    Viewed from the outside, the building seemed unremarkable.

    I in great Transport threw open the Door of my Chamber, and found the greatest Part of the Family standing on the Outside in a very great Consternation

    More examples (2)

    Have you seen my wife, Mr Jones?,Do you know what it's like on the outside?

    Four buffalo gals go 'round the outside 'Round the outside 'Round the outside Four buffalo gals go 'round the outside And do-si-do your partners.

  4. The furthest limit, as to number, quantity, extent, etc.

    Examples

    It may last a week at the outside.

  5. The part of a road towards the central division: towards the right if one drives on the left, or towards the left if one drives on the right.

    Examples

    On a motorway, you should always overtake other vehicles on the outside.

  6. The side of a curved road, racetrack etc. that has the longer arc length; the side of a racetrack furthest from the interior of the course or some other point of reference.

    Examples

    On the final bend, the second-place car tried to go around the outside of the leader but spun off into the barrier.

  7. The outer part of the sea, away from the peak of a wave.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    When a wave mounds on the outside and takes its shape, a surfer quickly paddles to the peak, positions himself in its evolving momentum, swings his board around, aligns with the peak, and thrusts himself into its cascading shape.

  8. A passenger riding on the outside of a coach or carriage.

    Usage
    • UK usage
    • Colloquial
    • Dated
    Examples

    The outsides did as outsides always do. They were very cheerful and talkative at the beginning of every stage, and very dismal and sleepy in the middle[…]

Adjective

  1. Of or pertaining to the outer surface, limit or boundary.

    Examples

    The outside surface looks good.

    Household drudgery, wood-cutting, milking, and gardening soon roughen the hands and dim the outside polish.

    More examples (1)

    The tyres, which come from the steel manufacturers, are rolled without weld. They are bored inside to an internal diameter slightly less than the outside diameter of the wheel centre, on to which they have to be shrunk, the allowance being about ¹⁄₁₀₀₀ of the diameter of the wheel centre.

  2. Of, pertaining to or originating from beyond the outer surface, limit or boundary.

    Examples

    1938 (believed written c.1933), H. P. Lovecraft, The Book, Dogs had a fear of me, for they felt the outside shadow which never left my side.

    It is the witness to your state of mind, the outside picture of an inward condition.

    More examples (1)

    Nor did they consult with outside persons in religious studies, sociology of religion, or psychology of religion.

  3. Away from the interior or center of something.

    Examples
    More examples (2)

    I don't want to take up your time with outside details so I will only say that about two years ago I had an opportunity of acquiring a share in a very promising claim—gold, you understand, both reef and alluvial.

    As the centripetal force is an inverse function of the radius of the curve, it follows that the runner in the outside lane will be less affected than the runner in the inside lane.

  4. Originating from, arranged by, or being someone outside an organization, group, etc.

    Examples

    The Board did not trust outside information about their rivals.

    More examples (1)

    Positions in organizations are being vacated continually through death and retirement, promotion and demotion. Replacements may be drawn from the outside ("an outside man") or from within the organization.

  5. Extending or going beyond the borders or scope of an organization, group, etc.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    Although a marriage to "one of ours" was encouraged, an outside marriage was not condemned if it would be to a believer of a similar faith. Some of the immigrants' children married Australians and joined Australian Churches.

  6. Away (far) from the batter as it crosses home plate.

    Usage
    • of a pitch
    Examples

    The first pitch is ... just a bit outside.

  7. Reaching the extreme or farthest limit, as to extent, quantity, etc; maximum.

    Examples

    an outside estimate

  8. Positioned towards the central division of a road: towards the right-hand side if one drives on the left, or left-hand side if one drives on the right.

    Usage
    • UK usage
    Examples

    the outside lane of the motorway

  9. Positioned towards the shoulder of a road: towards the left-hand side if one drives on the left, or right-hand side if one drives on the right.

    Usage
    • US usage
    Examples

    the outside lane of the highway

  10. Not legally married to or related to (e.g. not born in wedlock to), and/or not residing with, a specified other person (parent, child, or partner); (of a marriage, relationship, etc) existing between two such people. (Compare out of wedlock, nonresidential.)

    Usage
    • of a person
    Antonyms
    Examples
    More examples (3)

    Isaac Nathan's Christian wife served as godmother to his outside son, born after their Christian marriage. She allowed the boy, but not his mother, to live with her, her husband, and their two children.

    An 'outside wife' has limited social recognition and status because her husband typically refuses to declare her publicly as his wife. She also has much less social and politico-jural recognition than an 'inside wife' [...]

    The legitimacy and inheritance rights of children were questionable, because colonial law did not acknowledge the validity of an outside marriage contracted after a monogamous, Christian one.

    A husband will thus have responsibilities to his own household, as well as to those in which his “outside” children reside.

    More examples (1)

    The latter is her “outside” child in reference to her conjugal tie at the time. Should she leave this man and move in again with the father of her first child, then the three younger children assume the place of “outside” children, [...]

Adverb

  1. To or in the outdoors or outside; to or in an area that is beyond the scope, limits, or borders of a given place.

    Examples

    I am going outside.

    Residents of the city rarely ventured outside.

    More examples (1)

    Jurgis waited outside and walked home with Marija.

  2. To or in the outdoors or outside; to or in an area that is beyond the scope, limits, or borders of a given place. Not in prison.

    Usage
    • Colloquial
    Examples

    It is the prison that supports the image of the criminal […] he's lost when he's outside.

  3. To or in the outdoors or outside; to or in an area that is beyond the scope, limits, or borders of a given place. Beyond the breaking waves.

    Examples

    Taking off outside in the green.

  4. Outdoors.

    Examples

    I slept outside last night.

    More examples (1)

    Just under the ceiling there were three lunette windows, heavily barred and blacked out in the normal way by centuries of grime. Their bases were on a level with the pavement outside, a narrow way which was several feet lower than the road behind the house.

    Harry and David spent most of their childhood outside, developing an intimate knowledge of the animals, waterways, and plant life of Mid Wales.

Preposition

  1. On the outside of, not inside (something, such as a building).

    Examples
    More examples (3)

    1919 June 28, the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany, Treaty of Versailles, Part IV—German Rights and Interests outside Germany, In territory outside her European frontiers as fixed by the present Treaty, Germany renounces all rights, titles and privileges whatever in or over territory which belonged to her or to her allies, and all rights, titles and privileges whatever their origin which she held as against the Allied and Associated Powers.

    There is jurisdiction over an offense under section 601 committed outside the United States if the individual committing the offense is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (as defined in section 101(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act).

    Hepaticology, outside the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere, still lies deep in the shadow cast by that ultimate "closet taxonomist," Franz Stephani—a ghost whose shadow falls over us all.

  2. Beyond the scope, limits, or borders of.

    Examples

    tourists from outside the country

  3. Near, but not in.

    Examples

    Up the hill Richmond town was burning briskly; outside the town of Richmond there was no trace of the Black Smoke.

    Jane Green […] lives outside New York City with her husband and children.

    More examples (1)

    Kastner lives in University City with his wife, Leslie Cohen, who works for the Jewish Federation, and their 17-month-old old son. Kastner grew up outside Cleveland.

  4. Except, apart from.

    Usage
    • usually
    • with “of”
    Examples

    Outside of winning the lottery, the only way to succeed is through many years of hard work.

Verb

  1. To ostracize or exclude.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (2)

    Alison affirms that the kingdom of God does not rely on the sort of “outsiding” that most people find necessary to affirm identity. Keenan, echoing this claim, writes, “While the rest of humanity finds its identity in excluding, Jesus works for a sense of inclusiveness that defines him and, hopefully, us.”

    While the queer subject is outsided by the norm of reproductive heterosexuality, it feels its material effects and affects, even embodies this outsided-ness; […]

Adjective

  1. relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

    Antonyms
    Examples

    an outside margin

  2. coming from the outside

    Examples

    extraneous light in the camera spoiled the photograph

    relying upon an extraneous income

    More examples (1)

    disdaining outside pressure groups

  3. originating or belonging beyond some bounds

    Examples

    the outside world

    outside interests

    More examples (1)

    an outside job

  4. located, suited for, or taking place in the open air

    Examples

    outdoor clothes

    badminton and other outdoor games

    More examples (1)

    a beautiful outdoor setting for the wedding

  5. functioning outside the boundaries or precincts of an organized unit

    Examples

    extramural hospital care and treatment

    outside studies

  6. leading to or from the outside

    Examples

    an outside door

  7. from or between other countries

    Examples

    external commerce

    international trade

    More examples (1)

    developing nations need outside help

  8. unlikely to occur

    Synonyms
    Examples

    an outside chance

    a remote possibility

    More examples (1)

    a remote contingency

  9. on or toward an outer edge

    Examples

    the outside lane

    an outside lane

  10. (of a baseball pitch) on the far side of home plate from the batter

    Synonyms
    Examples

    the pitch was away (or wide)

    an outside pitch

Noun

  1. the region that is outside of something

    Synonyms
    Antonyms
    Broader terms
  2. the outer side or surface of something

    Synonyms
    Antonyms
    Broader terms

Adverb

  1. outside a building

    Antonyms
    Examples

    in summer we play outside

  2. on the outside

    Antonyms
    Examples

    outside, the box is black

Word forms
outsidesowtsidemore outsidemost outsideoutsidesoutsidingoutsidedoutsided

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