on the outside

idiom

: on the outer side, edge, or surface of something

The number 22 car tried to pass the leader on the outside (of the track).

baseball : on the side of home plate farthest from the batter

The next pitch was a fastball on the outside.

—used to describe someone's appearance

I might seem calm on the outside, but I'm actually really nervous.

: not in prison

He looked forward to life on the outside again.

Examples of on the outside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The office was reached by a stairway on the outside of the building and consisted of two rooms. —

Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 In addition, police found blue ratchet straps that had been used on the outside of the fridge in the home the two shared, according to an affidavit obtained by NJ.com. —

Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025 The incident was caught on camera — the individual slid back down on the outside of the fence after reaching the top. —

Alex Nitzberg, Fox News, 5 Feb. 2025 Place your left elbow on the outside of your right thigh. —

Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for on the outside

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“On the outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20outside. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

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