out of

preposition

1

a(1)

—used as a function word to indicate direction or movement from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke up out of a deep sleep

b(1)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or situation beyond the range, limits, or sphere of

out of control

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or state away from the usual or expected

out of practice

2

—used as a function word to indicate origin, source, or cause

a remarkable colt out of an ordinary mare

built out of old lumber

fled out of fear

3

—used as a function word to indicate exclusion from or deprivation of

cheated him out of his savings

out of breath

4

—used as a function word to indicate choice or selection from a group

one out of four survived

5

—used as a function word to indicate the center of an enterprise or activity

runs her business out of her home

Phrases

out of it

1

: not part of a group, activity, or fashion

2

: in a dazed or confused state

Examples of out of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nintendo may be close to officially revealing the Switch 2, but third-party manufacturers have already let the cat out of the bag. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025

While Walmart can’t quite match that, taking 12.2 cents out of every dollar of growth, the retailer is working hard to catch up. —Evan Clark, WWD, 8 Jan. 2025

What that does is take these decisions out of the space of democratic contestation. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025

Blumberg took his portable recording equipment to them partly out of necessity; Tilbury doesn’t travel, and Sophie Agnel, another accomplished pianist, had restrictions on her busy schedule. —Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

out of

preposition

1

a

: from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

b

—used to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke out of a deep sleep

c

: beyond the range or limits of

moved out of sight

2

: because of, from

fled out of fear

3

—used to indicate source, material, or cause

built out of old lumber

4

—used to indicate the state or condition of being without something especially that was there before

the store is out of bread

cheated us out of our savings

5

: from among

one out of four survived

6

—used to indicate the center of a business or activity

runs her business out of her home