on the outside

phrase

1
: on the outer side, edge, or surface of something
The number 22 car tried to pass the leader on the outside (of the track).
2
baseball : on the side of home plate farthest from the batter
The next pitch was a fastball on the outside.
3
—used to describe someone's appearance
I might seem calm on the outside, but I'm actually really nervous.
4
: not in prison
He looked forward to life on the outside again.

Examples of on the outside in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nope, the Crimson Tide would most likely be on the outside looking in, while someone else from the SEC grabs their spot in the postseason. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 So now Planet 1 is on the outside path, and Planet 2 on the inside. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026 Signage on the outside of the building indicated that there were classes for both boys and girls. — October 15, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 During the process of repainting, conservators discovered that there were, in fact, eleven layers of paint on the outside. — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the outside

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Cite this Entry

“On the outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20outside. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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