outside */*/*/

UK [ˌaʊtˈsaɪd] / US / US [ˈaʊtˌsaɪd] adjective, adverb, noun, preposition

Summary:

Outside can be used in the following ways: - as a preposition (followed by a noun): He was sitting at a table outside the café. - as an adverb (without a following noun): Why don't you go and play outside? ♦ It's cold outside. - as an adjective (before a noun): the outside wall of the building - as a singular noun: The house doesn't look very impressive from the outside. - in the preposition phrase outside of: We usually hold meetings outside of business hours. ♦ He has told no one outside of a few close friends.

1) used for saying where someone/something is

a) not inside a building

Outside the sun was shining.

I could hear the sound of voices coming from somewhere outside.

b) close to a place, building, or room but not in it

Three police cars were parked outside their house.

We waited outside in the corridor until it was our turn to go in.

A crowd had gathered outside the gates of the US embassy.

The exhibition will open on a site just outside Paris.

c) away from a particular country, area, or town

The postal service is better outside London.

outside of:

Her name is almost unknown outside of Latin America.

2) moving or looking out of somewhere

a) moving or looking out of a building or room

Let's go outside and sit in the sun.

I walked over to the window and looked outside.

Residents were warned not to venture outside their homes.

b) moving out of a country, area, or town

Emily Brontë had never travelled outside Yorkshire.

3) the outer part of something used for referring to the outer part or surface of something

outside wall/surface/shell etc:

The outside walls were painted grey.

First remove the outside skin of the onion.

the outside of something:

The outside of the house is in urgent need of repair.

4) not within the limits of something

a) not within the limits of a particular time, range, or situation

classes held outside normal school hours

The failure was caused by circumstances outside our control.

Until then love was something outside my experience.

b) not within the limits of a particular subject or activity

George's passion outside business is rugby.

outside of:

mathematical discoveries that will have a big impact outside of mathematics

5) not within a particular group or organization

a) used for saying what is done or known by people who are not in a particular group or organization

Observers outside the government believe the programme is a waste of money.

The secret was never revealed outside the family circle.

b) used for referring to people who do not belong to a particular group or organization

from outside:

The company brought in advisers from outside.

outside help/interference/influence etc:

State governors resent outside interference from Washington.

outside experts/contractors/advisers etc (= ones not employed by the organization):

The department has commissioned outside contractors to do the job.

6) except except a particular thing or person

outside of:

I seldom meet anyone outside of the people I work with.

•

at the (very) outside — used for showing that you are mentioning the greatest amount or the longest possible period of time, although the real amount or time may be less

The job must be finished within a month at the very outside.

The boy can't be more than 16 or 17 at the outside.

outside interests/experience/knowledge etc — interests/experience/knowledge etc that are not connected with, or not a result of, the work that you do in your present job

You must not let your outside interests interfere with your work.

outside line/call — a telephone line/call that is connected to people in other places or organizations

How do I get an outside line?

outside toilet/stairs etc — a toilet/set of stairs etc that is not inside a building

- an outside chance

- on the outside