outlay
/ˈaʊtleɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtlˌe] /ˈaʊtleɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈaʊtlˌe] /ˈau̇t-ˌlā How to pronounce outlay (audio) ˌau̇t-ˈlā/ (ame, mw) · /ˌaʊtˈleɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtlˌe] /ˌaʊtˈleɪ/ (ame, ipa)
outlay — noun
- outlaysingular
- outlaysplural
1. a sum of money paid for one purpose, often at the beginning of a project, busine
a sum of money paid for one purpose, often at the beginning of a project, business, or major purchase
The bakery's first outlay went on ovens, trays, and a small delivery van.
outlay on + equipment when starting a business
Before opening the clinic, Padma calculated the outlay for rent and medical equipment.
outlay for + costs before opening
The larger outlay for a solar roof can pay back in five years.
The school delayed the project because the outlay for new computers was too high.
- expense
a broader everyday word for money spent
- cost
usually focuses on the price or amount needed
- investment
used when the spending is expected to bring future benefit
- income
money received rather than paid out
文法句型
initial outlay
outlay for + noun
outlay on + noun
用法筆記
Often used in the singular for the first large amount of money needed to begin something. It commonly appears with for or on when the speaker names what the money is spent on.
常見錯誤
2. the act or process of using money to pay for something
the act or process of using money to pay for something
Any outlay of school funds now needs written approval from the principal.
outlay of + funds in formal policy language
Careful outlay of the grant helped the museum finish repairs before winter.
The report praised the town's wise outlay of tax money on safer roads.
Poor outlay of emergency funds left the clinic short of basic supplies.
- spending
the plain everyday word for the act of using money
- disbursement
a formal word for paying money out from a fund or account
- allocation
focuses more on deciding where money should go than on paying it
文法句型
outlay of + funds
careful outlay of + noun
用法筆記
This rare sense focuses on the spending activity itself rather than the amount. It is most common in formal phrases such as outlay of public funds or outlay of grant money.
outlay — verb
- outlaypresent simple I / you / we / they
- outlays3rd person singular
- outlaying-ing form
- outlaidpast simple
1. to put money toward a specific purpose, especially when beginning a project or p
to put money toward a specific purpose, especially when beginning a project or plan
The company outlaid nearly two million dollars on safer factory doors.
outlay + money + on + noun
Last year, the council outlaid extra funds to rebuild the storm-damaged pier.
outlay + funds + to-infinitive
The farmers outlaid part of the loan on irrigation pipes before the dry season.
By June, the studio had outlaid enough cash to hire three more designers.
文法句型
outlay + money + on + noun
outlay + funds + to-infinitive
用法筆記
This verb is rare and mainly appears in formal financial or official writing. Modern everyday English usually prefers spend or lay out, and the object is normally money, cash, or funds.