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

And in February ransomware attack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group, caused billing disruptions at pharmacies across the US and threatened to put some health providers out of business. —Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 27 June 2024

Office chair race enthusiasts have accused the city of taking the freedom out of a day meant to honor it. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024

The heads of the Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox churches in the Holy Land wrote a letter in response to these demands, accusing the Israeli government of attempting to push Christians out of the Holy Land. —Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 27 June 2024

His real name was withheld from the lawsuit out of fears for his safety, according to the law firm Farra & Wang, of Washington, D.C., which brought the action. —Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 27 June 2024

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