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
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.
Skarsgård’s wicker man is tall, blonde and handsome on the outside, but hollow by design. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 The ones that stored his massive archive were specially ordered, his name stenciled on the outside. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 Researchers constructed a hollow fiber membrane lined on the outside with palladium nanoparticles rather than attacking PFAS in open water. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026 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 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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