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

Differences between be out of and be out to

The main difference between be out of and be out to is that be out of means to have none left of something, while be out to means to have a specific goal or intention.

Meanings and Definitions: be out of vs be out to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Be out of

• 1. Have no more left.

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

Be out to

• 1. Attempt.

  She IS OUT TO get him sacked because she hates him.

Usage Examples: be out of, be out to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

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.

be out to

Example

They are out to win the championship this year.

Example

He is out to prove everyone wrong.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Be out of

run out of

To have none left of something.

Example

I need to go to the store because I ran out of milk this morning.

be depleted

To have used up or exhausted all of something.

Example

The company's resources were depleted after the long project.

be lacking

To not have enough of something.

Example

The team's performance was affected by lacking proper training and support.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Be out to

have a goal

To have a specific aim or objective.

Example

She has a goal to finish writing her book by the end of the year.

be determined to

To have a strong desire or resolve to achieve something.

Example

He is determined to get into his dream university, no matter what it takes.

have an intention

To have a purpose or plan in mind.

Example

The company has an intention to expand its operations to new markets next year.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “be”

• be fed up
• be along
• be onto
• be out to
• be not on

Phrasal Verbs with “out of”

• cheat out of
• back out of
• snap out of
• bail out of
• wiggle out of

Phrasal Verbs with “out to”

• go out to
• reach out to
• lose out to
• start out to

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

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

Be out of is more common than be out to. It's a phrase that people use often in everyday conversation when they want to express that they have run out of something. On the other hand, be out to is less common and used mainly in specific situations where someone wants to emphasize their intention or goal.

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

Both be out of and be out to are informal phrases that are suitable for casual conversations. However, be out to can be used in more formal settings like business or academic contexts to express a specific goal or intention.

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

The tone of be out of is usually neutral or slightly negative, as it implies a lack of something. In contrast, be out to has a more determined or ambitious tone, as it expresses a specific goal or intention.

be out of & be out to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Be out of

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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

Be out to

Synonyms

• attempt
• try
• aim
• strive
• seek
• pursue
• endeavor

Antonyms

• abandon
• ignore
• neglect
• overlook
• disregard
• give up