butt out

verb

butted out; butting out; butts out

intransitive verb

: to cease interference or involvement
told him to butt out of my affairs

Examples of butt out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Justice would have been better served, historically, by the Justices butting out. Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 In addition, people are urged to secure to chains to avoid dragging and potential spark and not to toss cigarette butts out of vehicles. Tim Fang, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 But one thing large majorities of both Republicans and Democrats agree on is that churches and other houses of worship should butt out of politics. Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 6 June 2026 And don't toss butts out the window. Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for butt out

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butt out was in 1906

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Cite this Entry

“Butt out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butt%20out. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

butt out

verb
: to stop meddling in someone else's business
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