What part of speech is “out”
Noun
Definition:
as a noun, 'out' refers to a means of escape or a way to avoid something.
Examples:
There's no easy out for this problem.
He always looks for an out when things get tough.
The contract has a built-in out clause.
Tips:
the noun form of 'out' often implies a desire to avoid responsibility or a difficult situation.
Adjective
Definition:
as an adjective, 'out' describes something that is not currently in its usual place or state, or something that is visible or known.
Rules:
'out' can indicate something is not in its usual place or state. It can suggest something is now visible or known.
Examples:
The lights are out.
The new edition of the book is out.
He's out for the season due to an injury.
Tips:
'out' as an adjective can sometimes be used in a more figurative sense, e.g., 'out of favor' (not popular).
Preposition
Definition:
as a preposition, 'out' indicates movement from the inside of something to the outside or from one location to another.
Rules:
'out' can be used to show movement from within a space to the exterior. It can also describe a direction away from a central point.
Examples:
She walked out the door.
The cat jumped out of the box.
He lives three miles out of town.
Tips:
'out of' is often used to indicate movement from within a confined space, while 'out' alone can indicate direction or distance from a point.
Verb
Definition:
as a verb, 'out' primarily means to expose or reveal, especially something that was meant to be kept secret.
Rules:
'out' can be used to reveal a secret or something concealed.
Examples:
The journalist outed the politician's scandal.
She was outed as a spy.
The magazine outed the celebrity's hidden relationship.
Tips:
in modern contexts, 'out' can refer to revealing someone's LGBTQ+ identity without their consent, which is considered disrespectful and potentially harmful.
Use this verb with sensitivity, especially in contexts related to personal identities.
Adverb
Definition:
as an adverb, 'out' describes a movement or position away from the inside or center of something. It can also indicate a state of visibility or existence.
Rules:
'out' can indicate movement away from an interior space or a central point. It can suggest something is visible, known, or exists.
Examples:
The sun is out.
He shouted out in surprise.
The secret is now out.
Tips:
'out' can sometimes be used in phrasal verbs, where its meaning can change based on the verb it's paired with, e.g., 'find out' (discover) or 'run out' (deplete).