on the outside
idiom
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
In his senior year alone, those numbers are more gaudy: 1,319 yards, 15.7 yards per catch and eight touchdowns — gaining a reputation for making catches in traffic, and doing so after lining up pretty much anywhere he was asked to, in the slot or on the outside.
—
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2025
Johnson joins them as a potential starter on the outside.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
What to Consider There are no internal compartments and only one zippered pocket on the outside.
—Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
During the 2023 season, McDuffie played 608 snaps on the inside at slot corner, compared to 368 on the outside.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the outside
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Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2025
Johnson joins them as a potential starter on the outside.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
What to Consider There are no internal compartments and only one zippered pocket on the outside.
—Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
During the 2023 season, McDuffie played 608 snaps on the inside at slot corner, compared to 368 on the outside.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the outside
Cite this Entry
“On the outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20outside. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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