out of
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Definition of out of
1a(1) —used as a function word to indicate direction or movement from within to the outside ofwalked out of the room
(2) —used as a function word to indicate a change in quality, state, or formwoke 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 ofout of control
(2) —used as a function word to indicate a position or state away from the usual or expectedout of practice
2 —used as a function word to indicate origin, source, or causea remarkable colt out of an ordinary marebuilt out of old lumberfled out of fear
3 —used as a function word to indicate exclusion from or deprivation ofcheated him out of his savingsout of breath
4 —used as a function word to indicate choice or selection from a groupone out of four survived
5 —used as a function word to indicate the center of an enterprise or activityruns her business out of her home
out of it
1 : not part of a group, activity, or fashion
2 : in a dazed or confused state
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A More Exception(al) Quiz
- Which of the following words is not a synonym for ‘a young person’?
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Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
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Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
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Time Traveler for out of
The first known use of out of was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century