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noun A1 Beginner Very common

outside

owt-SYD

Outside (noun) means the outer part or surface of something; the area beyond its boundary. Example: “The outside of the house needs a fresh coat of paint.”

noun
1
The outer part or surface of something; the area beyond its boundary.
"The outside of the house needs a fresh coat of paint."
"We waited outside until the doors opened."
adj
1
Coming from, located at, or relating to a place beyond a given boundary or group.
"They brought in an outside consultant to review the finances."
prep
1
Not inside; beyond the limits of.
"There's a bike rack outside the library."
"That decision is outside my authority."
adv
1
In or into the open air; not indoors.
"The kids are playing outside."

How to use outside

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeyond the boundary of something — a place, a building, a group, or a set of rules.

Common pairings
outside help go outside outside the box

Word forms

more outside comparative, more outside comparative, outsided past tense, outsides plural, outsides singular, most outside superlative, most outside superlative

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Test yourself on “outside” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of the house needs a fresh coat of paint.

exterior outer surface surface face outer side shell outdoor outdoors alfresco out-of-door out of doors

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for outside

See all rhymes for outside →

Frequently asked questions

What does “outside” mean?

The word “outside” means the outer part or surface of something; the area beyond its boundary. In plain terms, beyond the boundary of something — a place, a building, a group, or a set of rules.

How do you pronounce “outside”?

“Outside” is pronounced owt-SYD (/aʊtˈsaɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “outside” in a sentence?

Here is “outside” used in a sentence: “The outside of the house needs a fresh coat of paint.”

What is the opposite of “outside”?

The opposite of “outside” — its antonyms — is inside.

What part of speech is “outside”?

Depending on how it is used, “outside” can be a noun, an adjective, a preposition and an adverb.

Is “outside” a common word?

“Outside” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

How many meanings does “outside” have?

“Outside” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the outer part or surface of something; the area beyond its boundary.

What is the difference between the outside and the exterior?

Both mean the outer part of something, but they differ in tone and use. 'Outside' is the everyday word and can also mean the whole area beyond a boundary. 'Exterior' is more formal and usually refers to the outer surface of a building or object, as in a house's exterior.

What is the opposite of outside?

The opposite is the inside or interior — the part enclosed within something's boundary. Where the outside is the outer surface or the area beyond, the inside is the space contained within. A building's outside is its walls and roof; its inside is the rooms they enclose.

What is an example of the outside of something?

The outside of a house is its walls, roof, and front — everything you see before you step in. The outside of an apple is its skin. The outside of a box is its outer surface. In each case, it is the part facing the world, beyond the object's edge.

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