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outdoors

outdoors

61 1.0
The open air away from buildings
  • noun
  • /ˈaʊtˌdɔrz/
translation icon : aire libre
  • Sitting or lying quietly in the outdoors may not be dramatic, but it certainly is effective.
  • the great outdoors
  • experience the outdoors
  • love for the outdoors

It's a way for you to bring the outdoors inside.

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Examples

  • After weeks of being indoors, I was excited to finally get back to the outdoors for some fresh air.

  • Next summer is about enjoying the great outdoors and it's also a time for water fun.

  • I love the outdoors more than anything.

  • I love the outdoors and I love to hike.

  • Opportunities for students to experience the outdoors and wildlife firsthand vary.

    Academic text (1999)
  • We've been spending lots more time out there outdoors during the lockdown.

  • Research has shown that spending more time outdoors can reduce the risk of myopia onset.

  • I like the outdoors.

  • I miss the outdoors.

  • It's the great outdoors.

Synonyms

outside
vsoutdoors
1.0

In the open air, not inside

stresses being away from buildings or shelter rather than mere not-inside
open
vsoutdoors
18 1.0

An outdoor area with no cover

means being in the air and space rather than a specific land area
open air
vsoutdoors
8 1.0

Outside in a place that is not covered

emphasizes being away from buildings or shelter
out of doors
vsoutdoors
1 3.2

Outside in the open air, not inside a building

focuses on being located outside rather than on the movement
out-of-doors
vsoutdoors
  • Archaic
1 3.2

The open air away from buildings

is the unhyphenated everyday form used without a hyphen

Antonyms

95 1.0

To be inside a building rather than outside

How Outside

wilderness
129 3.8
outdoors
61 1.0
indoors
95 1.0

Surface Forms

outdoors singular
outdoors plural

Morphology

outdoors = outdoor (transparent) = out + door + s

Formed by adding -s to the clear adjective 'outdoor'; the meaning 'the open air' follows directly from 'outdoor'.

Etymology

The word outdoors comes from the parts out ('away from') and door ('entrance of a building'), so it originally meant 'outside the door'. Think of stepping out the door into nature; that's why 'the outdoors' means the 'open air' away from buildings.