camp out

camp out — phrasal verb

  • camp outbase form
  • camps out3rd person singular
  • camping out-ing form
  • camped outpast simple

1. to sleep outdoors in a tent or other simple shelter, usually for enjoyment or as

1.phrasal verbintransitiveA2
Definition

to sleep outdoors in a tent or other simple shelter, usually for enjoyment or as part of a trip

Example

The Watanabe children camped out in the backyard with their father last Friday.

intransitive phrasal verb: camp out + [place]

Ayesha and her cousins will camp out near the river once the weather warms up.

Common collocations
  • camp out in the backyard
  • camp out by the lake
  • camp out in the woods
  • camp out under the stars
Synonyms
  • go camping

    broader meaning that includes hiking, cooking outdoors, and other camping activities beyond just sleeping

  • sleep out

    more informal; can mean sleeping outside without necessarily using a tent

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

camp + out

camp out + [prepositional phrase]

Usage Note

Unlike 'go camping', which covers all activities of a camping trip, 'camp out' focuses specifically on the act of sleeping outdoors in a tent or shelter.

Common Mistakes

We camped out in a hotel last night.
We camped out in a tent by the lake.
'camp out' means to sleep outdoors in a tent or simple shelter, never inside a building.

Synonym discussion

Sense: phrasal verb/1

'Camp out' focuses specifically on sleeping outdoors in a tent or shelter, often in a backyard or during a short trip. 'Go camping' is broader — it covers the whole experience of a camping trip, including hiking, cooking, and sitting by a campfire. 'Sleep out' is more informal and can refer simply to sleeping outside without a tent (e.g., sleeping on a balcony on a hot night). 'Bivouac' is a more technical or military term for a temporary camp without tents. For everyday use, 'camp out' and 'go camping' are the most natural choices: you camp out in your garden for fun, but you go camping in a national park for a long weekend.

camp out ↗go campingsleep outbivouac ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Camp' comes from Latin 'campus' meaning 'field', which entered English through French. The verb 'to camp' (stay in a camp) appeared in the 16th century, and 'camp out' emerged later, combining 'camp' with 'out' to emphasise sleeping outside rather than in a fixed shelter.