outing
Americannoun
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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 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
When asked if he’d need another rehab outing after that, Roberts said: “Let’s just get through that next one. Get through four innings and kind of read and react from there.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
BBC boxing pundit Steve Bunce is not convinced another outing was necessary.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Lilliputian people in the foreground look excited—or is it terrified?—and the heavy mood feels less like a romantic outing than a prelude to volcanic eruption.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
With Lin that day was his wife, Anita, who had talked her older sister Marcela Zabala, a local actress, into joining them for the outing.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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
As of June 30, the most popular options included a mix of potentially pricey outings, but also some cheap ones: “Drinks, coffee & tea, dinner, and a walk,” according to Hinge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
And his steadiness in those shorter outings culminated in a strong postseason run that included four scoreless appearances in the World Series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
After two World Cup outings, Scotland's hopes of progressing from Group C hang in the balance.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
“Straight home from school tomorrow. No detours. No outings, you hear?”
From "The Rock and the River" by Kekla Magoon
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.
