outing

[ ou-ting ]

/ ˈaʊ tɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR outing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a pleasure trip, excursion, picnic, or the like: the annual outing for the senior class.

a public appearance, as by a participant in an athletic contest or event: The new player scored spectacularly in his second outing with the team.

the intentional exposure of a secret homosexual, especially a prominent figure.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of outing

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at out, -ing¹

SYNONYMS FOR outing

1 jaunt.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR outing ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby outing

outhandle, outhaul, outhit, outhouse, outie, outing, outing flannel, outjockey, outlaid, outland, outlander

Definition for outing (2 of 2)

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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for outing

Today is like an outing for her, and he wants to make it a good one.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The everyday stress, wondering if the other shoe was going to drop and I was going to be outed, is what led to me outing myself.
Exclusive: Michael Phelps’s Intersex Self-Proclaimed Girlfriend, Taylor Lianne Chandler, Tells All|Aurora Snow|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The second outing, “The Junior Professor Solution,” dug deeper into the same theme.
It’s OK to Like ‘The Big Bang Theory’|Kevin Fallon|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Set a year after the rest of the season, the staff takes an outing to the seaside.
How Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt Navigated Anna's Controversial Rape Arc|Kevin Fallon|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Outing a station chief is bad however it happens,” he said.
Valerie Plame: Kabul CIA Station Chief’s Outing Was ‘Colossally Stupid’|Eleanor Clift|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Doctor Clay said we could take this outing, and Im not going to let any teacher spoil it.
Dave Porter on Cave Island|Edward Stratemeyer
On this day of his outing he insisted on driving himself in the face of arguments to the contrary.
T. Tembarom|Frances Hodgson Burnett
It was always a good hour for her when Gudmund came home from an outing and brought her the news.
The Girl From the Marsh Croft|Selma Lagerlf
The Friday promenade of the Mussulman woman of the towns to the cemetery is her only outing, the only day off allowed her.
In the Land of Mosques & Minarets|Francis Miltoun
In another moment I had begun to take my first outing; and did ever baby have such a ride, and to such music!
Eye Spy|William Hamilton Gibson

British Dictionary definitions for outing (1 of 2)

outing

/ (ˈaʊtɪŋ) /

noun

a short outward and return journey; trip; excursion

informal the naming by homosexuals of other prominent homosexuals, often against their will