out-

See also: out and oût

English

Etymology

From Middle English ut-, from Old English ūt- (“out, without, outside”) (also as ūta-, ūtan- (“from or on the outside, without”), as in ūtanweard (“outward, external”)), from Proto-Germanic *ūt- (“out-”). Cognate with Dutch uit-, German aus-, Swedish ut-, Icelandic út-. More at out.

Prefix

out-

1. External to, on the outside of

   outback

   outhouse

2. Toward the outside of, away from

   outcast

   outlead

   outflee

3. Surpassing, exceeding

   outdo

   outlast

   outmaneuver

   • It out-Herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it. (Hamlet, act 3, scene 2)
4. Greater than, beyond

   outsize

   outrun

   outgrow

5. Completely

   outfit

   outwork

Derived terms

► English words prefixed with out-