out-of-date

/ˌaʊt əv ˈdeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌaʊt əv ˈdeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌau̇t-ə(v)-ˈdāt/ (ame, mw)

out-of-date — 形容詞

1. used for clothes, colors, or designs that belong to an earlier period and no lon

1.形容詞B1
釋義

老氣的

款式或設計顯得舊，不再流行

used for clothes, colors, or designs that belong to an earlier period and no longer look stylish today.

例句

Talia refused to wear the out-of-date jacket to the school concert.

Talia 不肯穿那件老氣的外套去學校音樂會。

out-of-date + clothes

The living room looked out-of-date after Jiwoo changed the curtains downstairs.

Jiwoo 把樓下窗簾換掉後，那間客廳看起來還是很老氣。

look + out-of-date

同義詞
  • old-fashioned

    very close, but it can sometimes sound warmer or less critical

  • dated

    often used for style, design, or language that clearly belongs to an earlier period

  • unfashionable

    focuses only on not matching current fashion

反義詞
  • fashionable

    matching what people like to wear or use now

  • stylish

    attractive in a modern or well-chosen way

  • modern

    showing a present-day style rather than an old one

文法句型

out-of-date + clothes/style/design

look/seem + out-of-date

用法筆記

This sense is most natural for appearance, design, and taste. It can describe a room or a logo as well as clothes, as long as the point is that the style now looks old to people.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather is out-of-date.
✅My grandfather has old-fashioned ideas.
💡English usually applies 'out-of-date' to a person's clothes, style, or opinions, not to the person directly.

2. used for facts, lists, or records that have not been updated, so some details ar

2.形容詞B1
釋義

未更新的

資料太舊，現在已有錯漏

used for facts, lists, or records that have not been updated, so some details are no longer right.

例句

Defne noticed the out-of-date bus map still showed last year's route.

Defne 發現那張未更新的公車地圖還畫著去年的路線。

out-of-date + map or record

Our class website was out-of-date, so the exam room number was wrong.

我們班的網站沒有更新，所以考場號碼寫錯了。

be out-of-date

同義詞
  • outdated

    a very close synonym that also works for rules, ideas, and equipment

  • old

    broader and weaker; it does not always imply that the information is now wrong

  • stale

    often used for news or information that is no longer fresh or useful

反義詞
  • updated

    brought up to the latest version or facts

  • current

    correct for the present time

  • up-to-date

    including the newest information available

文法句型

out-of-date + information/record/map

be + out-of-date

用法筆記

This sense usually goes with information sources such as maps, websites, records, schedules, or lists. It stresses that the age of the information can make it incorrect or misleading now.

常見錯誤

❌Please send the out-of-date news about the storm.
✅Please send the latest news about the storm.
💡'Out-of-date' means the information is too old to trust, not newly refreshed.

3. used for rules, systems, or equipment that have fallen behind newer ways and do

3.形容詞B1
釋義

過時的

做法或設備跟不上現在需要

used for rules, systems, or equipment that have fallen behind newer ways and do not fit present needs well.

例句

The factory's out-of-date alarm system failed during the practice drill.

工廠那套過時的警報系統在演練時失靈了。

out-of-date + system

Quan thinks the club's cash-only rule is out-of-date for students.

Quan 覺得社團只收現金的規定對學生來說太過時了。

out-of-date + rule

同義詞
  • outdated

    the nearest everyday synonym, especially for methods, rules, and systems

  • obsolete

    stronger and more formal, often suggesting a clear replacement already exists

  • antiquated

    more negative and often used when something feels awkwardly behind the times

反義詞
  • modern

    designed for present-day needs or taste

  • current

    still suitable or accepted now

  • up-to-date

    fully matching the latest needs, facts, or standards

文法句型

out-of-date + rule/system/method

be/look + out-of-date

用法筆記

Often used for something that still exists but should probably be changed because life, technology, or public expectations have moved on. It often sounds more critical than sense 1, which is mainly about appearance.

常見錯誤

❌The school out-of-date the timetable.
✅The school uses an out-of-date timetable.
💡'Out-of-date' is an adjective, so it describes a noun instead of acting like a verb.

4. used for food that has passed the date when it should be eaten and may no longer

4.形容詞B1
釋義

過期的

超過食用日期，現在不宜吃

used for food that has passed the date when it should be eaten and may no longer be safe.

例句

Tara threw away the out-of-date yogurt from the office fridge.

Tara 把辦公室冰箱裡那盒過期的優格丟掉了。

out-of-date + food item

The soup was out-of-date, so Tendai bought sandwiches instead.

那鍋湯已經過期了，所以 Tendai 改買三明治。

be out-of-date for food

同義詞
  • expired

    the most direct label on food packaging or medicine

  • stale

    describes bread or other food that is no longer fresh, but not always unsafe

  • off

    informal British English for food that has gone bad

反義詞
  • fresh

    recently made or still good to eat

  • safe

    not likely to cause harm if eaten

  • in date

    still within the printed period for safe use, especially in British English

文法句型

out-of-date + food

be + out-of-date

用法筆記

This sense is for food and drink. In shops, packaging often says 'expired' or shows a date, but in everyday speech people also say food is out-of-date when they think it should not be eaten.

常見錯誤

❌I ate the bread because it was out-of-date.
✅I threw away the bread because it was out-of-date.
💡For food, 'out-of-date' warns that it may no longer be safe to eat.