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
Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2024
Their spongy insides and soft, terry outsides create a nice, thick lather to get your little ones squeaky clean.
—Ashleigh Morley, Parents, 1 Nov. 2024
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
The allocation earmarked would pay for long-term assistance from outside law enforcement agencies to curtail a string of gun violence incidents in Antioch, especially in the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road area.
—Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Shand repeatedly insisted there was no one else outside, even as five more desperate Indians wandered to the vehicle from the fields, including one going in and out of consciousness.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Amid the complaints about various shady men in their lives and the exuberant jostling over who stole whose clientele, there is always the fear of the world outside the salon.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outside 
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.
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Noun
Uncommitted delegates protest in a sit-in outside on the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago.
—Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2024
Their spongy insides and soft, terry outsides create a nice, thick lather to get your little ones squeaky clean.
—Ashleigh Morley, Parents, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The decrease in cost ratio is due to a reduction in reliance on outside contractors.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
The allocation earmarked would pay for long-term assistance from outside law enforcement agencies to curtail a string of gun violence incidents in Antioch, especially in the Sycamore corridor and Cavallo Road area.
—Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Adverb
This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Shand repeatedly insisted there was no one else outside, even as five more desperate Indians wandered to the vehicle from the fields, including one going in and out of consciousness.
—Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
Preposition
Morris’s neighbor, John Arndt, a recreational kayaker from Oregon, grabbed some rope and jumped in one of the kayaks stored outside his house and paddled out to people and pulled them toward an island of higher ground where Morris and other neighbors had gathered.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Amid the complaints about various shady men in their lives and the exuberant jostling over who stole whose clientele, there is always the fear of the world outside the salon.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for outside
Dictionary Entries Near outside
Cite this Entry
“Outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outside. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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