outtake
Americannoun
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a segment of film or videotape edited out of the final version, as because of a technical error.
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a recording of a song not included in the final release of a record album, as because of a technical error.
noun
Etymology
Origin of outtake
Explanation
An outtake is any scene filmed for a movie that isn't used in the final cut. If an actor forgets his lines, for example, that scene will probably end up as an outtake. Making a film is a long process that involves many steps even after the actual filming of actors reciting dialog and acting out scenes is long over. Editors cut unnecessary bits out of movies, discarding outtakes and shaping a final product. Occasionally these outtakes are interesting or funny enough that directors will include them as extras on a DVD of a movie. Outtake dates from about 1960.
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.
“Up In Mississippi Tonight” could be an outtake from “Exile on Main Street.”
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026
“Production outlooks for early 2026 remain relatively flat, but some incremental output from the Permian is possible with new outtake capacity available and strong demands from the Gulf coast region.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
Tuesday’s show ended with Jepsen’s traditional closer, “Cut to the Feeling,” yet another “Emotion” outtake that’s taken on a second life as the subject of a durable internet joke about swords.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2025
“Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August,” the statement reads.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2023
The "jewel in the crown" of these images was an outtake from the Sgt Pepper album cover shoot, Mr Hughes, music specialist at Wessex Auction Rooms, said.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2023
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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