I. out ‧ side 1 S1 W1 /aʊtˈsaɪd/ BrE AmE adverb , preposition
1 .
a) not inside a building SYN outdoors OPP inside :
When we got up, it was still dark outside.
Go and play outside.
b) not inside a building or room but close to it:
Could you wait outside please.
I’ll meet you outside the theatre at two o'clock.
outside of American English :
Several people were standing in the hallway outside of his room.
c) out of a building or room:
We went outside to see what was happening.
I opened the door and looked outside.
2 .
a) not in a particular city, country etc:
She often travels outside the UK.
b) close to a place, city etc but not in it:
We camped a few miles outside the town.
Bolton is a mill town just outside Manchester.
outside of American English :
Maritza, 19, lives in Everett, outside of Boston.
3 . beyond the limits or range of a situation, activity etc OPP within ⇨ beyond :
It’s outside my experience, I’m afraid.
outside of especially American English :
children born outside of marriage
4 . if someone is outside a group of people, an organization etc, they do not belong to it:
Few people outside the government realized what was happening.
from outside (something)
The university administrators ignored criticism from outside.
Management consultants were brought in from outside the company.
5 . outside of somebody/something especially American English informal apart from a particular person or thing SYN except :
Outside of love, the best thing you can give a child is attention.
I’m taking one big trip this summer, but outside of that I’ll be around.
6 . if the time that someone takes to do something, especially finish a race, is outside a particular time, it is greater than that time:
He finished in 10 minutes 22.4 seconds, 4 seconds outside the record.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ outside not inside a building, but usually close to it:
Whey don’t you go outside and play?
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He was standing outside, smoking a cigarette.
▪ out outside – used mainly before the following prepositions or adverbs:
We slept out under the stars.
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Don’t stand out in the rain – come inside.
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I can hear somebody out there.
▪ outdoors/out of doors away from buildings and in the open air – used especially when talking about pleasant or healthy things you do outside:
In the summer, we like to eat outdoors.
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Kids should spend as much time out of doors as possible.
▪ in the open air outside where the air is fresh:
It’s good to exercise in the open air.
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Leave the wood to dry slowly in the open air.
▪ al fresco outside – used when talking about eating outside:
We prefer to dine al fresco.
II. out ‧ side 2 S2 W2 /ˈaʊtsaɪd/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
1 . not inside a building OPP inside :
We turned off the outside lights and went to bed.
The house will need a lot of outside repairs before we can sell it.
2 . involving people who do not belong to the same group or organization as you:
Outside observers said the election was free and fair.
Consultants were brought in to provide some outside advice.
3 . the outside world the rest of the world:
The city is largely cut off from the outside world.
computers linked by modems to the outside world
4 . outside interests/experiences etc interests, experiences etc that are not part of your work or studying:
Children should be encouraged to take up outside interests, such as music or sport.
5 . an outside chance a very small possibility that something will happen:
Ireland still have an outside chance of winning.
6 . outside line/call etc a telephone line or telephone call which is to or from someone who is not inside a particular building or organization:
Dial ‘9’ before the number when making outside calls.
7 . an outside figure/estimate etc a number or amount that is the largest something could possibly be
8 . the outside lane British English the ↑ lane that is nearest the middle of the road SYN fast lane OPP the inside lane , inside lane
III. out ‧ side 3 S3 /aʊtˈsaɪd, ˈaʊtsaɪd/ BrE AmE noun
1 . the outside
a) the part or surface of something that is furthest from the centre OPP inside
the outside of
The outside of the house was painted white.
b) the area around something such as a building, vehicle etc OPP inside
from the outside
From the outside, it looked like any other big warehouse.
c) someone who is on or from the outside is not involved in an activity or does not belong to a particular group, organization etc OPP inside
from the outside
Influences from the outside can undermine the values you want to teach your children.
on the outside
To anyone on the outside, our marriage seemed perfect.
2 . on the outside
a) used to describe the way someone appears to be or to behave:
Ken was furious, but forced himself to appear calm on the outside.
b) not in prison:
Life on the outside was not as easy as he’d first thought.
c) British English if a car passes another car on the outside, it passes on the driver’s side
3 . at the (very) outside used to say that a particular number or amount is the largest something could possibly be, and it might be less SYN at the most :
It’s only a 20-minute walk, half an hour at the outside.