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• out-of-bounds
  out-of-bounds

  adjective

  being beyond or passing the limits or boundaries of a field, course, etc., marking the area within which the ball, puck, or the like is legally in play.
• out of bounds
  out of bounds

  adjective

  (often foll by to) not to be entered (by); barred (to)

out-of-bounds

American  

[aut-uhv-baundz] / ˈaʊt əvˈbaʊndz /

adjective

1. Sports. being beyond or passing the limits or boundaries of a field, course, etc., marking the area within which the ball, puck, or the like is legally in play.

2. beyond any established boundaries or prescribed limits; forbidden; prohibited.

3. further than or beyond established limits, as of behavior or thought.

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out of bounds British  

adjective

1. (often foll by to) not to be entered (by); barred (to)

   out of bounds to civilians

2. outside specified or prescribed limits

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out of bounds Idioms  

1. Beyond established limits, breaking the rules, unreasonable. For example, Calling the teacher a liar—that's out of bounds. This expression alludes to the boundaries of the playing area in numerous sports and to the rules applying to them. Its figurative use dates from the 1940s. [Early 1800s] Also see within bounds.

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Etymology

Origin of out-of-bounds

First recorded in 1855–60

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

out-of-bounds out of bounds

You can slow cook a 20-pound turkey waiting for NBA replay to resolve a contested out-of-bounds play.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Devin Booker hit another three on the out-of-bounds play.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2024

A double bogey at the second was followed by a bogey on the third, while a wayward out-of-bounds drive on the par-four fourth cost him another shot as his round began to unravel.

From BBC ● May 18, 2024

Going out-of-bounds in such areas can be dangerous: Some of the millions of people who visit Yellowstone each year get badly burned by ignoring warnings not to stray off the trail.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

I’m waiting for your letter giving me your word you won’t stray out-of-bounds again.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

With no timeouts, Washington simply needed to spike the ball, or chuck it out of bounds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

As he was stepping out of bounds, Hurts was hit hard in the shoulder area by Jackson and knocked backward onto the ground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

On the field Friday, a referee shouted "stop!" as a shot flew out of bounds -- prompting every robot to freeze instantly.

From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026

In practice, it means that olive groves, fields with crops and even the cemetery are, in effect, now out of bounds to their owners in the village.

From BBC ● May 10, 2026

He threw the ball up softly, off balance as he headed out of bounds.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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