Out of

Full definition of out of

Preposition

1. From the inside to the outside of ; having emerged from.The audience came out of the theater.The cat is out of the bag
2. Not part of.This is out of my area of expertise.
3. With the motivation of.I give money to charity out of pity.She asked the question out of mere curiosity.
4. Without; no longer in possession of; not having more; divested of.Sorry, we're out of bread.
• 1874, Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd, 2005 Barnes & Noble Classics publication of 1912 Wessex edition, p276:Once out of the farm the approach of poverty would be sure.
5. Not in a customary or desired state.They will soon be out of business.This train will be going out of service at the next station.
6. Expressing a fraction or a ratio.Only three out of a thousand are born with this rare diseaseOut of the entire class, only Cynthia completed the work.

Synonyms

• exterior to (2)
• external to (2, 3)
• outside of (2, 3)
• without Scotland (3)
• (expressing a fraction or a ratio) from, of, for

Derived terms

• (having come out of) out of nowhere
• (Not part of) out of reach