outside
/ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈaʊtsˈaɪd] /ˌaʊtˈsaɪd/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈaʊtsˈaɪd] /ˌau̇t-ˈsīd ˈau̇t-ˌsīd/ (ame, mw)
outside — adjective
- outsidepositive
- more outsidecomparative
- most outsidesuperlative
1. used for something outdoors rather than inside a building
used for something outdoors rather than inside a building
Their old house still has an outside toilet by the back wall.
used before nouns: outside toilet
We climbed the outside stairs to reach the second-floor office.
used before nouns: outside stairs
An outside table was the only seat left at the cafe.
The school stored balls in an outside locker near the gate.
文法句型
outside toilet
outside stairs
outside table
用法筆記
Most often comes before nouns for structures or places connected to a building, such as toilet, stairs, or table. Distinguish from adverb sense 1, which tells you where someone or something is.
常見錯誤
2. coming from people, groups, or places that are not part of the one being discuss
coming from people, groups, or places that are not part of the one being discussed
The mayor asked outside lawyers to review the land deal.
outside + noun for non-member support
Our team brought in outside help before the festival opened.
collocation: outside help
Outside money paid for the village clinic this year.
The school invited an outside speaker for career day.
- external
is more formal and common in business or technical writing
- independent
stresses freedom from the group rather than simple origin
- foreign
usually points to another country, so it is narrower
文法句型
outside help
outside money
outside expert
用法筆記
Usually modifies nouns such as help, expert, lawyer, group, or money. It often suggests that the person or thing does not belong to the organization, area, or system already being discussed.
3. in baseball, describing a pitch that passes the part of the plate farther from t
in baseball, describing a pitch that passes the part of the plate farther from the batter
The catcher called for an outside fastball against the left-handed hitter.
baseball collocation: outside fastball
Jin swung late at the outside pitch in the ninth inning.
baseball collocation: outside pitch
In the seventh inning, the umpire called the outside pitch a strike.
The rookie missed the outside corner by only a few inches.
- inside
toward the batter rather than away from them
文法句型
outside pitch
outside corner
outside fastball
用法筆記
This sense belongs to baseball language and is often paired with pitch, corner, or fastball. It is relative to the batter, so the exact side changes with a right-handed or left-handed hitter.
4. used for a telephone line or call that reaches somewhere beyond the building or
used for a telephone line or call that reaches somewhere beyond the building or system you are in
Press nine for an outside line from the hotel phone.
collocation: outside line
The nurse put Dr. Lin's outside call through at noon.
collocation: outside call
The copy room fax has no outside line, so staff use the front desk machine.
Only the front desk can make outside calls after midnight.
- internal
within the same building or phone system
文法句型
outside line
outside call
outside connection
用法筆記
Common in hotels, offices, and hospitals where an internal phone system is separated from calls to the wider network.
5. used for the greatest amount, number, or time that seems possible or acceptable
used for the greatest amount, number, or time that seems possible or acceptable
Ten days is the outside limit for shipping this medicine.
collocation: outside limit
At an outside estimate, repairs will cost fifty thousand dollars.
collocation: outside estimate
Friday is the outside date for sending in the forms.
The company put the outside figure for the project at eight million dollars.
- minimum
the smallest possible or allowed amount
文法句型
outside limit
outside estimate
outside date
用法筆記
Often appears with nouns such as limit, estimate, date, figure, or chance. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which usually appears in the fixed phrase 'at the outside'.
6. very unlikely, but still not completely impossible
very unlikely, but still not completely impossible
Mina has an outside chance of winning the final race.
collocation: outside chance
There was only an outside chance the package would arrive today.
outside chance + that-clause idea
Even with extra study, Ben had an outside chance of passing.
A late injury gave our team an outside chance of reaching finals.
- likely
having a good chance of happening
文法句型
outside chance
outside hope
用法筆記
Most often appears in the phrase 'outside chance', and less often with hope. It suggests the possibility is small, but not zero.
outside — adverb
1. in the space just beyond a door, wall, or container, rather than within it
in the space just beyond a door, wall, or container, rather than within it
A black umbrella was waiting outside the classroom door.
outside near a specific building part
Nora rang the bell and stood outside in the rain.
stand outside
Please leave your muddy boots outside by the mat.
The cat scratched outside until Grandpa opened the window.
文法句型
wait outside
leave something outside
stand outside
用法筆記
This is the everyday opposite of 'inside' for location. Distinguish from adjective sense 1, where outside directly describes a noun such as toilet or stairs.
2. not within the town, area, or place that has just been mentioned
not within the town, area, or place that has just been mentioned
Most fans lived in Kaohsiung, but a few came from outside.
from outside a named area
Prices are lower outside, so locals shop in the next county.
This student card gets free bus rides in Tainan, but not outside.
Patients from outside must fill in a longer form.
文法句型
from outside
live outside
work outside
用法筆記
Often refers back to a place already named, especially a city, region, school, or organization. It is common after 'from'.
3. from beyond a group, system, or activity, rather than from within it
from beyond a group, system, or activity, rather than from within it
No one from outside can join the video meeting without a code.
from outside a group or system
The plan seemed local, but the money came from outside.
came from outside
Fresh ideas from outside helped the family business change.
During the strike, the factory brought workers in from outside.
- externally
is more formal and often used in technical or business writing
- from elsewhere
can fit many contexts, but it does not clearly suggest being outside a group
- inside
from within the same group or system
- internally
from within an organization or structure
文法句型
from outside
help from outside
ideas from outside
用法筆記
Unlike adverb sense 2, this sense is less about geography and more about membership or participation. It often appears in the phrase 'from outside'.
4. apart from the thing mentioned; if that is left out, the rest is true
apart from the thing mentioned; if that is left out, the rest is true
Outside a few delays, the bus trip went smoothly.
formal use meaning except for
Outside Sunday, Mei can work any day next week.
Outside one spelling error, the essay was excellent.
Outside the lunch rush, this cafe is usually quiet.
- except
is far more common in everyday English
- apart from
is a natural common alternative in speech and writing
文法句型
outside + noun phrase
outside one exception
用法筆記
This use is much less common than 'except' or 'except for' and sounds more literary or formal. Distinguish from preposition sense 2, which also means exclusion but is used more directly with groups, times, or amounts.
outside — noun
- outsidesingular
- outsidesplural
1. the part of something that faces away from its middle or inner space
the part of something that faces away from its middle or inner space
The outside of the box was covered with silver paper.
pattern: the outside of + noun
Rain beat against the outside of the kitchen window.
Paint the outside first, then finish the inside tomorrow.
The outside of the loaf felt hard, but the middle was soft.
- exterior
is more formal, especially for buildings or vehicles
- surface
can mean the outer layer, but it does not always suggest an inside
- outer side
is a descriptive phrase rather than a fixed noun
文法句型
the outside of the box
paint the outside
hard on the outside
用法筆記
Usually refers to the visible outer layer or side of an object, building, or food. It often contrasts directly with 'inside'.
2. the greatest amount that can reasonably be expected in a situation
the greatest amount that can reasonably be expected in a situation
At the outside, sixty guests can fit in this hall.
fixed phrase: at the outside
The repair will take a week at the outside.
time expression: at the outside
At the outside, the trip should cost twenty thousand dollars.
Three months, at the outside, should finish the court case.
- maximum
is the everyday general word for the highest amount
- upper limit
stresses a boundary rather than an estimate
- minimum
the smallest possible amount
文法句型
at the outside
a week at the outside
fifty people at the outside
用法筆記
This noun sense is mostly found in the expression 'at the outside'. Distinguish from adjective sense 5, which directly modifies a noun such as limit or estimate.
outside — preposition
1. past the edge or range of a place, rule, subject, or system
past the edge or range of a place, rule, subject, or system
Several farms lie outside the city limits near Tainan.
outside + boundary noun
That question is outside my area of training.
outside + area of knowledge
No camping is allowed outside marked zones in this park.
Her behavior fell outside school rules during the museum trip.
文法句型
outside the city limits
outside my area of training
outside school rules
用法筆記
Used with both physical limits and abstract ones such as rules, experience, or responsibility.
2. with a person or thing not included in what is being counted or considered
with a person or thing not included in what is being counted or considered
Outside weekends, the cafe closes at six during winter.
formal use meaning except on
Outside one small fee, the event is free.
outside + one excluded item
Nobody answered outside the night guard at the gate.
Outside chocolate, Nora rarely eats sweets after dinner.
文法句型
outside weekends
outside one fee
outside a short break
用法筆記
This is a rare formal alternative to 'except' or 'except for'. In everyday English, most speakers choose those more common forms.