all-out

[ awl-out ]

/ ˈɔlˌaʊt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR all-out ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

using all one's resources; complete; total: an all-out effort.

Nearby words

Origin of all-out

1905–10; adj. use of all out utterly, completely, Middle English al out

SYNONYMS FOR all-out

unstinting, exhaustive, unremitting.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR all-out ON THESAURUS.COM

all

[ awl ]

/ ɔl /

adjective

the whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration): all the cake; all the way; all year.

the whole number of (used in referring to individuals or particulars, taken collectively): all students.

the greatest possible (used in referring to quality or degree): with all due respect; with all speed.

every: all kinds; all sorts.

any; any whatever: beyond all doubt.

nothing but; only: The coat is all wool.

dominated by or as if by the conspicuous possession or use of a particular feature: The colt was all legs. They were all ears, listening attentively to everything she said.

Chiefly Pennsylvania German. all gone; consumed; finished: The pie is all.

pronoun

the whole quantity or amount: He ate all of the peanuts. All are gone.

the whole number; every one: all of us.

everything: Is that all you want to say? All is lost.

noun

one's whole interest, energy, or property: to give one's all; to lose one's all.

(often initial capital letter) the entire universe.

adverb

wholly; entirely; completely: all alone.

only; exclusively: He spent his income all on pleasure.

each; apiece: The score was one all.

Archaic. even; just.

Origin of all

before 900; Middle English al, plural alle; Old English eal(l); cognate with Gothic alls, Old Norse allr, Old Frisian, Dutch, Middle Low German al, Old Saxon, Old High German al(l) (German all); if < *ol-no-, equivalent to Welsh oll and akin to Old Irish uile < *ol-io-; cf. almighty

SYNONYMS FOR all

2. every one of, each of. 14. totally, utterly, fully.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR all ON THESAURUS.COM

Can be confusedall awl (see usage note at the current entry)

Usage note

Expressions like all the farther and all the higher occur chiefly in informal speech: This is all the farther the bus goes. That's all the higher she can jump. Elsewhere as far as and as high as are generally used: This is as far as the bus goes. That's as high as she can jump.
Although some object to the inclusion of of in such phrases as all of the students and all of the contracts and prefer to omit it, the construction is entirely standard.
See also already, alright, altogether.

out

[ out ]

/ aʊt /

adverb

away from, or not in, the normal or usual place, position, state, etc.: out of alphabetical order; to go out to dinner.

away from one's home, country, work, etc., as specified: to go out of town.

in or into the outdoors: to go out for a walk.

to a state of exhaustion, extinction, or depletion: to pump a well out.

to the end or conclusion; to a final decision or resolution: to say it all out.

to a point or state of extinction, nonexistence, etc.: to blow out the candle; a practice on the way out.

in or into a state of neglect, disuse, etc.; not in current vogue or fashion: That style has gone out.

so as not to be in the normal or proper position or state; out of joint: His back went out after his fall.

in or into public notice or knowledge: The truth is out at last.

seeking openly and energetically to do or have: to be out for a good time.

not in present possession or use, as on loan: The librarian said that the book was still out.

on strike: The miners go out at midnight.

so as to project or extend: to stretch out; stick your tongue out.

in or into activity, existence, or outward manifestation: A rash came out on her arm.

from a specified source or material: made out of scraps.

from a state of composure, satisfaction, or harmony: to be put out over trifles.

in or into a state of confusion, vexation, dispute, variance, or unfriendliness: to fall out about trifles.

so as to deprive or be deprived: to be cheated out of one's money.

so as to use the last part of: to run out of gas.

from a number, stock, or store: to point out the errors.

aloud or loudly: to cry out.

with completeness or effectiveness: to fill out.

thoroughly; completely; entirely: The children tired me out.

so as to obliterate or make undecipherable: to cross out a misspelling; to ink out.

adjective

not at one's home or place of employment; absent: I stopped by to visit you last night, but you were out.

not open to consideration; out of the question: I wanted to go by plane, but all the flights are booked, so that's out.

wanting; lacking; without: We had some but now we're out.

removed from or not in effective operation, play, a turn at bat, or the like, as in a game: He's out for the season because of an injury.

no longer having or holding a job, public office, etc.; unemployed; disengaged (usually followed by of): to be out of work.

inoperative; extinguished: The elevator is out. Are the lights out?

finished; ended: before the week is out.

not currently stylish, fashionable, or in vogue: Fitted waistlines are out this season.

unconscious; senseless: Two drinks and he's usually out.

not in power, authority, or the like: a member of the out party.

Baseball.

(of a batter) not succeeding in getting on base: He was out at first on an attempted bunt.
(of a base runner) not successful in an attempt to advance a base or bases: He was out in attempting to steal second base.

beyond fixed or regular limits; out of bounds: The ball was out.

having a pecuniary loss or expense to an indicated extent: The company will be out millions of dollars if the new factory doesn't open on schedule.

incorrect or inaccurate: His calculations are out.

not in practice; unskillful from lack of practice: Your bow hand is out.

beyond the usual range, size, weight, etc. (often used in combination): an outsize bed.

exposed; made bare, as by holes in one's clothing: out at the knees.

at variance; at odds; unfriendly: They are out with each other.

moving or directed outward; outgoing: the out train.

not available, plentiful, etc.: Mums are out till next fall.

external; exterior; outer.

located at a distance; outlying: We sailed to six of the out islands.

Cricket. not having its innings: the out side.

of or relating to the playing of the first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course (opposed to in): His out score on the second round was 33.

preposition

(used to indicate movement or direction from the inside to the outside of something): He looked out the window. She ran out the door.

(used to indicate location): The car is parked out back.

(used to indicate movement away from a central point): Let's drive out the old parkway.

interjection

begone! away!

(used in radio communications to signify that the sender has finished the message and is not expecting or prepared to receive a reply.)Compare over(def 52).

Archaic. (an exclamation of abhorrence, indignation, reproach, or grief (usually followed by upon): Out upon you!

noun

a means of escape or excuse, as from a place, punishment, retribution, responsibility, etc.: He always left himself an out.

a person who lacks status, power, or authority, especially in relation to a particular group or situation.

Usually outs. persons not in office or political power (distinguished from in).

Baseball. a put-out.

(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) a return or service that does not land within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court (opposed to in).

something that is out, as a projecting corner.

Printing.

the omission of a word or words.
the word or words omitted.

Northern British Dialect. an outing.

verb (used without object)

to go or come out.

to become public, evident, known, etc.: The truth will out.

to make known; tell; utter (followed by with): Out with the truth!

verb (used with object)

to eject or expel; discharge; oust.

to intentionally expose (a secret homosexual, a spy, etc.).

Origin of out

before 900; (adv.) Middle English; Old English ūt; cognate with Dutch uit, German aus, Old Norse, Gothic ūt; akin to Sanskrit ud-; (adj., interjection, and preposition) Middle English, from the adv.; (v.) Middle English outen, Old English ūtian to put out, cognate with Old Frisian ūtia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for all out

all-out

/ informal /

adjective

using one's maximum powersan all-out effort

adverb all out

to one's maximum effort or capacityhe went all out on the home stretch

out

/ (aʊt) /

adverb

(often used as a particle) at or to a point beyond the limits of some location; outsideget out at once

(particle) out of consciousnessshe passed out at the sight of blood

(particle) used to indicate a burst of activity as indicated by the verbfever broke out

(particle) used to indicate obliteration of an objectthe graffiti were painted out

(particle) used to indicate an approximate drawing or descriptionsketch out; chalk out

public; revealedthe secret is out

(often used as a particle) away from one's custody or ownership, esp on hireto let out a cottage

on sale or on view to the publicthe book is being brought out next May

(of a young woman) in or into polite societyLucinda had a fabulous party when she came out

(of the sun, stars, etc) visible

(of a jury) withdrawn to consider a verdict in private

(particle) used to indicate exhaustion or extinctionthe sugar's run out; put the light out

(particle) used to indicate a goal or object achieved at the end of the action specified by the verbhe worked it out; let's fight it out, then!

(preceded by a superlative) existingthe friendliest dog out

an expression in signalling, radio, etc, to indicate the end of a transmission

Australian and NZ archaic in or to Australia or New Zealandhe came out last year

out of

at or to a point outsideout of his reach
away from; not instepping out of line; out of focus
because of, motivated bydoing it out of jealousy
from (a material or source)made out of plastic
not or no longer having any of (a substance, material, etc)we're out of sugar

adjective (postpositive)

not or not any longer worth consideringthat plan is out because of the weather

not allowedsmoking on duty is out

(also prenominal) not in vogue; unfashionablethat sort of dress is out these days

(of a fire or light) no longer burning or providing illuminationthe fire is out

not workingthe radio's out

unconscioushe was out for two minutes

out to it Australian and NZ informal asleep or unconscious, esp because drunk

not in; not at homecall back later, they're out now

desirous of or intent on (something or doing something)I'm out for as much money as I can get

Also: out on strike on strikethe machine shop is out

(in several games and sports) denoting the state in which a player is caused to discontinue active participation, esp in some specified role

used up; exhaustedour supplies are completely out

worn into holesthis sweater is out at the elbows

inaccurate, deficient, or discrepantout by six pence

not in office or authorityhis party will be out at the election

completed or concluded, as of timebefore the year is out

in flowerthe roses are out now

in arms, esp, in rebellionone of his ancestors was out in the Forty-Five

(also prenominal) being outthe out position on the dial

informal not concealing one's homosexuality

preposition

out of; out throughhe ran out the door

archaic, or dialect outside; beyondhe comes from out our domain

interjection

an exclamation, usually peremptory, of dismissal, reproach, etc
(in wireless telegraphy) an expression used to signal that the speaker is signing off

out with it a command to make something known immediately, without missing any details

noun

mainly US a method of escape from a place, difficult situation, punishment, etc

baseball an instance of the putting out of a batter; putout

printing

the omission of words from a printed text; lacuna
the words so omitted

ins and outs See in 1 (def. 30)

verb

(tr) to put or throw out

(intr) to be made known or effective despite efforts to the contrary (esp in the phrase will out)the truth will out

(tr) informal (of homosexuals) to expose (a public figure) as being a fellow homosexual

(tr) informal to expose something secret, embarrassing, or unknown about (a person)he was eventually outed as a talented goal scorer

Word Origin for out

Old English ūt; related to Old Saxon, Old Norse ūt, Old High German ūz, German aus

usage

The use of out as a preposition, though common in American English, is regarded as incorrect in British English: he climbed out of (not out) a window; he went out through the door

all

/ (ɔːl) /

determiner

the whole quantity or amount of; totality of; every one of a classall the rice; all men are mortal
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)all of it is nice; all are welcome
(in combination with a noun used as a modifier)an all-ticket match; an all-amateur tournament; an all-night sitting

the greatest possiblein all earnestness

any whateverto lose all hope of recovery; beyond all doubt

above all most of all; especially

after all See after (def. 11)

all along all the time

all but almost; nearlyall but dead

all of no less or smaller thanshe's all of thirteen years

all over

finished; at an endthe affair is all over between us
over the whole area (of something); everywhere (in, on, etc)all over England
typically; representatively (in the phrase that's me (you, him, us, them, etc) all over)Also (Irish): all out
unduly effusive towards
sport in a dominant position over

See all in

all in all

everything consideredall in all, it was a great success
the object of one's attention or interestyou are my all in all

all that or that (usually used with a negative) informal (intensifier)she's not all that intelligent

all the (foll by a comparative adjective or adverb) so much (more or less) than otherwisewe must work all the faster now

all too definitely but regrettablyit's all too true

and all

British informal as well; tooand you can take that smile off your face and all
Southern African a parenthetical filler phrase used at the end of a statement to make a sl ight pause in speaking

and all that informal

and similar or associated things; et ceteracoffee, tea, and all that will be served in the garden
used as a filler or to make what precedes more vague: in this sense, it often occurs with concessive forceshe was sweet and pretty and all that, but I still didn't like her
See that (def. 4)

as all that as one might expect or hopeshe's not as pretty as all that, but she has personality

at all

(used with a negative or in a question) in any way whatsoever or to any extent or degreeI didn't know that at all
even so; anywayI'm surprised you came at all

be all for informal to be strongly in favour of

be all that informal, mainly US to be exceptionally good, talented, or attractive

for all

in so far as; to the extent thatfor all anyone knows, he was a baron
notwithstandingfor all my pushing, I still couldn't move it

for all that in spite of thathe was a nice man for all that

in all altogetherthere were five of them in all

adverb

(in scores of games) apiece; eachthe score at half time was three all

completelyall alone

be all … informal used for emphasis when introducing direct speech or nonverbal communicationhe was all, 'I'm not doing that'

noun

(preceded by my, your, his, etc) (one's) complete effort or interestto give your all; you are my all

totality or whole

Related formsRelated prefixes: pan-, panto-

Word Origin for all

Old English eall; related to Old High German al, Old Norse allr, Gothic alls all

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for all out

out

Old English utian "expel, put out" (see out (adv.)); used in many senses over the years. Meaning "to expose as a closet homosexual" is first recorded 1990 (as an adjective meaning "openly avowing one's homosexuality" it dates from 1970s; see closet); sense of "disclose to public view, reveal, make known" has been present since mid-14c.

Eufrosyne preyde Þat god schulde not outen hire to nowiht. [Legendary of St. Euphrosyne, c.1350]

Related: Outed; outing.

out

1620s, "a being out" (of something), from out (adv.). From 1860 in baseball sense; from 1919 as "means of escape; alibi."

all

Old English eall "all, every, entire," from Proto-Germanic *alnaz (cf. Old Frisian, Old High German al, Old Norse allr, Gothic alls), with no certain connection outside Germanic.

Combinations with all meaning "wholly, without limit" were common in Old English (e.g. eall-halig "all-holy," eall-mihtig "all-mighty") and the method continued to form new compound words throughout the history of English. First record of all out "to one's full powers" is 1880. All-terrain vehicle first recorded 1968. All clear as a signal of "no danger" is recorded from 1902. All right, indicative of approval, is attested from 1953.

out

adv.

Old English ut "out, without, outside," common Germanic (cf. Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic ut, Middle Dutch uut, Dutch uit, Old High German uz, German aus), from PIE root *ud- "up, out, up away" (cf. Sanskrit ut "up, out," uttarah "higher, upper, later, northern;" Avestan uz- "up, out," Old Irish ud- "out," Latin usque "all the way to, without interruption," Greek hysteros "the latter," Russian vy- "out"). Meaning "into public notice" is from 1540s. As an adjective from c.1200. Meaning "unconscious" is attested from 1898, originally in boxing. Sense of "not popular or modern" is from 1966. As a preposition from mid-13c.

Sense in baseball (1860) was earlier in cricket (1746). Adverbial phrase out-and-out "thoroughly" is attested from early 14c.; adjective usage is attested from 1813; out-of-the-way (adj.) "remote, secluded" is attested from late 15c. Out-of-towner "one not from a certain place" is from 1911. Shakespeare's It out-herods Herod ("Hamlet") reflects Herod as stock braggart and bully in old religious drama and was widely imitated 19c. Out to lunch "insane" is student slang from 1955; out of this world "excellent" is from 1938; out of sight "excellent, superior" is from 1891.

Idioms and Phrases with all out

all out

With all one's strength, ability, or resources; not holding back. For example, They are going all out to make the fund-raiser a success. This seemingly modern term dates from about 1300, when it meant “completely” or “wholly.” It now refers to making a great effort and is also used adjectivally, as in an all-out effort. This usage became current in America in the late 1800s, with reference to races and other kinds of athletic exertion. In the mid-1900s it gave rise to the phrase to go all out and was transferred to just about any energetic undertaking. Also see go whole hog.

all

In addition to the idioms beginning with all

all along
all along the line
all and sundry
all at once
all at sea
all better
all but
all cylinders
all ears
all else being equal
alley cat
all eyes
all for
all for the best
all gone
all hours
all in a day's work
all in all
all in, be
all in good time
all in one piece
all joking aside
all kinds of
all of
all of a sudden
all of the above
all one
all out
all outdoors, big as
all over
all over but the shouting
all over one
all over the place
all over with
all present and accounted for
all right
all right for you
all right with one
all roads lead to Rome
all set
all sewed up
all shook up
all sorts
all systems go
all talk (and no action)
all that
all that glitters is not gold
all the
all the best
all the better
all the rage
all there
all the same
all the thing
all the time
all the way
all the worse
all things to all people, be
all thumbs
all told
all to the good
all up
all very well
all well and good
all wet
all wool and a yard wide
all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)
all year round

also see:

above all
after all
against all odds
as all getout
at all
at all costs
be-all and end-all
beat all
by all accounts
by all means
by all odds
cap it all
fall all over
firing on all cylinders
first of all
for all
for all I care
for all I know
for all one's worth
for all that
get away (from it all)
get one's act (it all) together
go all the way
have all one's buttons
have it all over someone
have it both ways (all)
hit on all cylinders
hold all the aces
in a (all of a) dither
in all
in all good conscience
in all one's born days
in all probability
(all) in the same boat
it's all downhill from here
it's all over with
it takes all sorts
jump all over
know all the answers
know-it-all
laugh all the way to the bank
least of all
let it all hang out
not all it's cracked up to be
not at all
not for all the tea in china
no time at all
of all the nerve
of all things
once and for all
one and all
pull out all the stops
put all one's eggs in one basket
seen one, seen them all
till all hours
to all intents and purposes
(all) to the good
turn out all right
walk all over
warts and all
when all's said and done
with all due respect
with all one's heart
you can't win them all

out

In addition to the idioms beginning with out

out and about
out and away
out at the elbows
out back
out cold
out for, be
out for the count
out from under
out front
out in left field
out in the cold
out in the open
out like a light
out loud
out of a clear blue sky
out of, be
out of bounds
out of breath
out of business
out of character
out of circulation
out of commission
out of condition
out of control
out of date
out of fashion
out of favor
out of gas
out of hand
out of harm's way
out of humor
out of it
out of joint
out of keeping
out of key
out of kilter
out of line
out of luck
out of nowhere
out of one's
out of one's depth
out of one's element
out of one's hair
out of one's mind
out of one's shell
out of one's system
out of one's way
out of order
out of phase
out of place
out of pocket
out of practice
out of print
out of proportion
out of reach
out of season
out of shape
out of sight
out of sorts
out of square
out of step
out of stock
out of the blue
out of the corner of one's eye
out of the frying pan into the fire
out of the hole
out of the loop
out of the mouths of babes
out of the ordinary
out of the picture
out of the question
out of the rain
out of the running
out of the way
out of the window
out of the woods
out of the woodwork
out of thin air
out of this world
out of touch
out of town
out of turn
out of wedlock
out of whack
out of whole cloth
out of work
out on a limb
out on bail
out on one's ear
out on the town
outside of
out to lunch
out with it

also see:

ace out
act out
all out
ask out
back out
bail out
bang out
bawl out
bear out
beat one's brains out
beat out
belt out
bent out of shape
black out
bliss out
blot out
blow one's brains out
blow out
blurt out
bottom out
bow out
branch out
brave out
break out
break out of
bring out
bug out
bum out
burn out
burst into (out)
buy out
call out
camp out
cancel out
card in (out)
carry out
cast out
check out
chew out
chicken out
chill out
churn out
clean out
clear out
clock in (out)
close out
come out
come out ahead
come out in the wash
come out of
come out with
conk out
cool off (out)
cop out
count out
crank out
crap out
crop out
cry (out) for
cut it out
cut out
day after day (day in, day out)
deal out
deck out
die out
dig out
dine out on
dish out
do out of
dope out
down and out
drag on (out)
draw out
drop out
drown out
drum out
dry out
duck out
ease out
eat someone out of house and home
eat one's heart out
eat out
eat out of one's hand
edge out
eke out
fade out
fall out
farm out
far out
feel out
ferret out
fight it out
figure out
fill out
find out
fish out
fish out of water
fit out
fizzle out
flake out
flat out
flesh out
flip one's lid (out)
flunk out
follow out
for crying out loud
fork over (out)
freak out
freeze out
fresh out of
get out
get out of
get the lead out
give out
go out
go out of one's way
gross out
grow out of
gut it out
hammer out
hand out
hang out
hang out one's shingle
hang out to dry
hash over (out)
have an out
have it out
have one's work cut out
head out
hear out
heart goes out to
help out
hide out
hire out
hit out
hold out
in (out of) favor
in one ear and out the other
in (out of) one's element
in (out of) one's hair
in (out of) print
in (out of) reach
ins and outs
inside out
into (out of) thin air
in (out of) tune
iron out
jury is still out
keep an eye out
kick out
knock out
knock the bottom out
lash out
lay out
leave out
let out
let the cat out of the bag
light out
like a bat out of hell
live out
lock out
log in (out)
look out
look out for
lose out
luck out
make a mountain out of a molehill
make capital out of
make out
max out
mellow out
miss out on
murder will out
muster in (out)
nose out
nose out of joint
odd man out
on the outs
on the way out
opt out
pan out
parcel out
pass out
pay out
peter out
phase in (out)
pick out
pig it (out)
played out
play out
point out
poop out
pound out
pour out
price out of the market
print out
prove out
psych out
pull out
pull out all the stops
pull out of a hat
pull the rug out
punch in (out)
put one out
put oneself out
put out
put out feelers
put someone out of his or her misery
put out to grass
puzzle out
rack out
rain out
read out of
ride out
right out
right-side out
roll out
root out
round off (out)
rough out
rub out
rule out
run out of
run out on
sack in (out)
scare out of one's wits
screw someone out of
see out
sell out
set out
settle (wipe out) old scores
shell out
ship out
shut out
sign out
sing out
single out
sit out
skip out
sleep out
slip out
smoke out
snap out of it
sniff out
snuff out
sound out
space out
spell out
spin out
stake out
stamp out
stand out
start out
step out
stick one's neck out
stick out
straighten out
stress out
strike out
string out
strung out
swear out
sweat out
take a leaf out of someone's book
take it out on
take out
take the wind out of someone's sails
talked out
talk out
talk out of
tease out
tell tales (out of school)
think out
thrash out
throw out
time out
tired out
top out
trick out
trot out
truth will out
try out
tuckered out
tune out
turn out
wait out
walk out
want in (out)
washed out
wash out
wear out
weasel out
weave in and out
weed out
well out of
whacked out
wig out
win out
wipe out
work out
worm out of
write out
year in, year out
zap out

all-out

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of all-out

all

adjective

pronoun

noun

adverb

Origin of all

Usage note

out

adverb

adjective

preposition

interjection

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of out

all-out

adjective

adverb all out

out

adverb

adjective (postpositive)

preposition

interjection

noun

verb

Word Origin for out

usage

all

determiner

adverb

noun

Word Origin for all

out

out

all

out

all out

all

out