outside
outside Lexical Profile
outside Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Situated on, near, or facing the exterior or outer surface of something.
"Please turn on the outside lights before the guests arrive this evening."
Not belonging to or originating from a particular group, organization, or institution.
"The board of directors decided to hire an outside consultant to review the company's financial strategy."
Representing the greatest possible degree or limit; or, conversely, very slight, remote, or unlikely (especially of a chance or possibility).
"There is still an outside chance that the team could qualify for the championship finals."
• adverb
On or to the exterior of a building or enclosure; in the open air.
"Because the weather was so pleasant, we decided to eat our lunch outside."
• noun
The external side, surface, or part of something.
"She painted the outside of the wooden box a bright shade of blue."
The external world or space beyond an enclosure, boundary, or institution.
"The cabin had no telephone or internet connection to the outside."
• preposition
Situated or moving beyond the boundaries, walls, or limits of a place.
"Several students were waiting outside the lecture hall for the professor to arrive."
Beyond the scope, limits, or jurisdiction of a particular subject, rule, or activity.
"That specific legal question falls outside the committee's area of authority."
Apart from; with the exception of.
"Outside a few minor typographical errors, the final manuscript is ready for publication."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, the compound preposition 'outside of' is widely accepted in both spatial and figurative contexts (e.g., 'outside of the city', 'outside of work'), whereas British English and formal academic style generally prefer the simple preposition 'outside' without 'of' for spatial senses.
• Rhymes for outside
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in late Middle English (around the 16th century) as a compound of the native Old English elements 'out' (from 'ūt') and 'side' (from 'sīde').