- present participle of out.
outing
Americannoun
-
a pleasure trip, excursion, picnic, or the like.
the annual outing for the senior class.
- Synonyms:
- jaunt
-
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 person’s denied or secret identity, orientation, or status, especially gay sexual orientation or transgender identity.
noun
-
a short outward and return journey; trip; excursion
-
informal the naming by homosexuals of other prominent homosexuals, often against their will
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of outing
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; see origin at out, -ing 1
Explanation
An outing is a short trip, especially one that takes no longer than a day. For example, you might ask your pal if he'd like to go on an outing to the zoo. A summer outing might be a picnic or a day at the beach, while a winter outing could consist of a hike in the snow or a shopping trip and lunch at a restaurant. Any brief, fun journey can be called an outing. In the fourteenth century, an outing was simply the "action of going out," and in the fifteenth century it started to mean "act of putting out" as well. By the 1800s it had gained today's definition.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
What began as a largely efficient outing fell apart in the seventh, when Irvin gave up five runs over 10 batters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
What was once an affordable outing for ordinary Austrians has become an upmarket experience "reimagined" for the age of mass tourism, said the anthropologist.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Mike Webb cut short a family fishing outing last week after a 200-pounder approached, minutes after Webb’s 11-year-old son caught something.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
But Margaret and Alice’s quick-witted machinations provide the basis for a merry outing at the theater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Our country outing next day was more in the nature of a rehearsal at first.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Parents told the BBC the cost of keeping children entertained during the school holidays remained a concern, with some saying outings can cost over £100.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
On these outings, I learned not just about flight, farm-to-table and fabulism, but about Eric.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Prior believes Snell will need at least four to five outings, likening it to a spring training buildup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Over those two outings, Merino has touched the ball just 16 times and managed to score twice.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
“I remember with more pleasure the weekend outings, with hikes, sports, campfires, and youth hosteling,” she said.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
