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Glite Dictionary
out-of-doors

out-of-doors

1 3.2
The open air away from buildings
  • noun
  • /ˈaʊt əv ˈdɔrz/
  • Archaic
translation icon : al aire libre
  • He himself was a consumptive, but he regained his health after living out of doors and he aimed to make the cure universally available.

Examples

  • Goodness gracious, but it is good to be out of doors.

    Fetch (2009)

  • But Charles loves to be out of doors.

    A Quiet Passion (2016)

  • You know how Big Dave loved camping and the out of doors?

    The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

  • Then, out-of-doors, in the open air, she began cleaning a large salmon she had caught the evening before.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • However, I wasn't so lucky with the Norwegian Folk Dance Festival: they were out of doors and not confined to one small area.

    Blog text (13)

  • In case you haven't noticed, not only are we out of doors... And knee-deep in snow, but we are also going uphill!

    Avalanche (1978)

  • Charles enjoys spending time out-of-doors, especially on sunny days.

  • In spring, many people like to be out-of-doors to enjoy the fresh air.

  • Playing games out-of-doors is a wonderful way for children to exercise.

Synonyms

outside
vsout-of-doors
∞ 1.0

In the open air, not inside

emphasizes the area of air and land beyond buildings and cover
outdoors
vsout-of-doors
61 1.0

The open air away from buildings

uses a hyphenated form rather than one single word
open
vsout-of-doors
18 1.0

An outdoor area with no cover

applies more to land areas rather than general unenclosed air and land
open air
vsout-of-doors
8 1.0

Outside in a place that is not covered

stresses being away from buildings or shelter rather than mere unenclosed space
out of doors
vsout-of-doors
1 3.2

Outside in the open air, not inside a building

is written as a single hyphenated form

Antonyms

indoors
95 1.0

To be inside a building rather than outside

sheltered
1 3.2

Protected from wind, rain, or danger by something that covers it

How Outside

out-of-doors
  • Archaic
1 3.2
indoors
95 1.0

Surface Forms

out-of-doors singular
out-of-doors plural

Morphology

out-of-doors = outdoors (transparent) = out + door + s

The meaning is directly recoverable from the components 'out' + 'door(s)' and matches the common one-word form 'outdoors'.

Etymology

The word out-of-doors comes from the simple parts out and doors, which together meant 'outside' or 'away from buildings'. Think of stepping through a door into fresh air — that's why out-of-doors means being 'in the open air'.