outside

Syllabification: (out·side)

Pronunciation: /ˈoutˈsīd/

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Definition of outside

noun

the external side or surface of something:record the date on the outside of the file
the side of a bend or curve where the edge or surface is longer in extent.
the side of a racetrack further from the center, where the lanes are longer.
the external appearance of someone or something:was he as straight as he appeared on the outside?
(in basketball) the area beyond the perimeter of the defense:he often set up the Lakers' plays from the outside

adjective

[attributive]

1situated on or near the exterior or external surface of something:put the outside lights on
Baseball (of a pitch) passing home plate on the side of the plate away from the batter, not in the strike zone.
(in soccer and other sports) denoting positions nearer to the sides of the field.
(in basketball) taking place beyond the perimeter of the defense:he needs work on his outside shot

2not belonging to or coming from within a particular group:I have some outside help
beyond one’s own immediate personal concerns:I was able to face the outside world again

3highest possible; greatest; maximum:new monthly charges that, according to outside estimates, may total $8 per line

preposition & adverb

1situated or moving beyond the boundaries or confines of: [as preposition]:there was a boy outside the door [as adverb]:the dog was still barking outside outside, the wind was as wild as ever
not being a member of (a particular group): [as preposition]:those of us outside the university
(in football, soccer, and other sports) closer to the side of the field than (another player): [as preposition]:Swift appeared outside him with Andrews on his left

2 [preposition] beyond the limits or scope of:the high cost of shipping has put it outside their price range

Phrases

at the outside: (of an estimate) at the most:every minute, or at the outside, every ninety seconds
on the outside: away from or not belonging to a particular circle or institution:when you’re on the outside, then you have a much better view of what they’re doing
on the outside looking in: (of a person) excluded from a group or activity.
an outside chance: a remote possibility.
outside of: informal beyond the boundaries of:a village 20 miles outside of New York; apart from:outside of his family, nobody cares too much about him

Outside of tends to be more commonly used in the US than in Britain, where outside usually suffices, but, like its cousin off of, it is colloquial and not recommended for formal writing. (See off (usage).) The adverb outside is not problematic when referring to physical space, position, etc. (I’m going outside), but the compound preposition outside of is often used as a colloquial (and often inferior) way of saying except for, other than, apart from (outside of what I just mentioned, I can’t think of any reason not to). Besides possibly sounding more informal than desired, outside of may cause misunderstanding by suggesting physical space or location when that is not the point to be emphasized, or when no such sense is intended—consider the ambiguity in this sentence: outside of China, he has few interests. Does this mean that his primary interest is China? Or does it mean that whenever he is not in China, he has few interests?.

outside in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of outside in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

outside

noun

adjective

preposition & adverb

Phrases

at the outside

on the outside

on the outside looking in

an outside chance

outside of

outside in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for outside

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