come out phrasal verb ( see also ↑ come )
1 . if something comes out, it is removed from a place:
These stains will never come out!
2 . if information comes out, people learn about it, especially after it has been kept secret:
No doubt the truth will come out one day.
It’s come out that several ministers received payments from the company.
3 . if a photograph comes out, it shows a clear picture:
I took some photographs, but they didn’t come out.
The wedding photos have come out really well.
4 . if a book, record etc comes out, it becomes publicly available:
When is the new edition coming out?
5 . if something comes out in a particular way, that is what it is like after it has been made or produced:
I’ve made a cake, but it hasn’t come out very well.
The cover has come out a bit too big.
6 . if something you say comes out in a particular way, that is how it sounds or how it is understood:
His words came out as little more than a whisper.
That didn’t come out the way I meant it to.
I tried to explain everything to her, but it came out all wrong (=not in the way I intended) .
7 . if someone comes out in a particular way, that is the situation they are in at the end of an event or series of events:
The more experienced team came out on top.
come out of
She came out of the divorce quite well.
8 . to be easy to notice:
His right-wing opinions come out quite strongly in his later writings.
9 . to say publicly that you strongly support or oppose a plan, belief etc
come out in favour of
The board of directors has come out in favour of a merger.
come out against
Teachers have come out against the proposed changes.
At least he’s got the courage to come out and say what he thinks.
10 . if the sun, moon, or stars come out, they appear in the sky:
The sky cleared and the sun came out.
11 . if a flower comes out, it opens:
The snowdrops were just starting to come out.
12 . if someone comes out, they say that they are ↑ gay when this was a secret before
come out to
That summer, I decided to come out to my parents.
13 . British English informal to refuse to work, as a protest:
Nurses have threatened to come out in support of their pay claim.
We decided to come out on strike.
14 . if a young woman came out in the past, she was formally introduced into upper-class society at a large formal dance