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."
"From the outside, the shop looks small, but inside it is huge."
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."
"We hired an outside company to clean the windows each month."
"Outside help may be needed if the team cannot solve the problem."
prep
1
Not inside; beyond the limits of.
"There's a bike rack outside the library."
"That decision is outside my authority."
"She parked her car outside the post office and went in."
adv
1
In or into the open air; not indoors.
"The kids are playing outside."
"It was so warm that we ate dinner outside."
"Wait outside for a moment while I find my coat."
How to use outside
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- outsides
- Third person singular
- outsides
- Past tense
- outsided
- Comparative
- more outside
- Superlative
- most outside
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Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the house needs a fresh coat of paint.
Synonyms
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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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