Phrasal verbs "be out" vs "be out of"

Differences between be out and be out of

Be out means to be away from a place or not at home, while be out of means to have none left of something.

Meanings and Definitions: be out vs be out of

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Be out

• 1. Be absent from a place.

  She IS OUT on a visit for the day.

Be out of

• 1. Have no more left.

  We're OUT OF coffee so I'll have to go and get some.

Usage Examples: be out, be out of in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

be out

Example

When I arrived at his office, he was out for lunch.

Example

She is out shopping with her friends.

be out of

Example

We are out of milk, so I need to buy some more.

Example

She is out of time to finish her project.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Be out

not be in

To be absent or not present in a specific location.

Example

Sorry, he can't come to the phone right now. He's not in the office at the moment.

be away

To be absent or not at home for a period of time.

Example

She won't be able to attend the meeting tomorrow since she'll be away on a business trip.

be occupied

To be busy or engaged with a task or activity.

Example

He's occupied with a project right now, so he can't chat with you at the moment.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Be out of

run out of

To exhaust or deplete the supply of something.

Example

We need to go to the store since we've run out of milk for breakfast.

be depleted

To have no more of something left.

Example

The company's budget has been depleted, so they can't afford any new hires this year.

be lacking

To not have enough of something or to be deficient in a particular aspect.

Example

The team's performance was affected since they were lacking proper training and resources.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “be”

• be away
• be out to
• be along
• be down on
• be cut up

Phrasal Verbs with “out”

• fluff out
• plant out
• bag out
• pull out
• send out

Phrasal Verbs with “out of”

• grow out of
• bail out of
• sign out of
• do out of
• wiggle out of

Differences in be out vs be out of: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: be out or be out of?

In daily conversation, people use be out more often than be out of. This is because be out is used for more daily situations such as being away from home or not being available. Be out of is used less frequently and mainly when we're talking about running out of something. So, while both phrases are used, be out is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of be out and be out of

Be out and be out of are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of be out and be out of

The tone of be out and be out of can differ based on context. Be out often carries a neutral or casual tone when related to being away from home or unavailable, while be out of typically has a more urgent or concerned tone, especially when referring to running out of essential items.

be out & be out of: Synonyms and Antonyms

Be out

Synonyms

• absent
• away
• gone
• not present
• not in

Antonyms

• in
• present
• available
• here
• home

Be out of

Synonyms

• depleted
• exhausted
• lacking
• finished
• gone
• unavailable
• empty

Antonyms

• available
• plentiful
• adequate
• abundant
• in stock
• sufficient