Outside
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/
Definitions
4 meaningsThe external area or environment beyond a building, room, or enclosed space.
/ˈaʊtsaɪd/
The external environment or area beyond a defined boundary.
Let's go outside and play.
💡 Simply: Imagine your house. The outside is everything that's *not* inside your house! Like the yard, the street, and the sky.
👶 For kids: The place that is not inside, like the park or your yard!
More Examples
The outside of the building looked very old.
We had a picnic outside.
How It's Used
"Children love to play outside."
"The outside is cold today."
Relating to, located, or originating from the exterior of something.
/ˈaʊtsaɪd/
Located or originating on the exterior.
The outside walls of the house are painted blue.
💡 Simply: If something is outside, it means it's on the *outside* of something, like the outside walls of a house.
👶 For kids: Something that is not inside.
More Examples
The outside temperature is freezing.
She took the outside lane to pass the other cars.
How It's Used
"The outside wall needs painting."
"An outside chance of winning."
To or in the external environment; outdoors.
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/
To or in the external environment.
Please go outside and close the door.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're inside and you're going to step onto the *outside* of a building or structure; you're going *outside*.
👶 For kids: Going to the place that's not inside!
More Examples
The dog is outside in the garden.
Let's eat outside.
How It's Used
"She went outside to get some fresh air."
"The cat is outside now."
On or to the exterior of; beyond the limits or scope of.
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/
On or to the outside of.
The cat is outside the house.
💡 Simply: Like when something is *outside* of a box; it is not inside the box, but on the edges.
👶 For kids: Being away from the inside of something.
More Examples
Outside the scope of the investigation.
Outside the city limits, the scenery was beautiful.
How It's Used
"The flowers are outside the building."
"Outside your jurisdiction."
Synonyms
Environment
Exterior
Outdoors
External
Outer
Externally
Out
Beyond
Idioms & expressions
outside of
Beyond the scope or limits of; excluding.
"Outside of her expertise, I don't know who to ask."
think outside the box
To think creatively and unconventionally.
"We need to think outside the box to solve this problem."
From Middle English out(e) side, equivalent to out + side. 'Out' indicating the exterior or the position away from something, and 'side' referring to the boundary or edge.
The term 'outside' has been used in English since at least the 14th century, evolving from Old English usages. Its meaning has remained relatively consistent, describing the external environment or position.
Memory tip
Think of the area *out* of the *side* of a house.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: out + side