on the outside
idiom
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
The Postal Service approves thousands of requests every year from police officers and federal agents looking for information on the outside of people’s letters, records show.
—
Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The first round of malls in the mid-to-late 1950s did have more architecture on the outside, Lange said.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 22 June 2024
That was Willie: crusty on the outside, inside soft to the bone.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 June 2024
Made of all plastic on the outside, this one-pound desktop feels reasonably sturdy and flex-free.
—PCMAG, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for on the outside 
Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The first round of malls in the mid-to-late 1950s did have more architecture on the outside, Lange said.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 22 June 2024
That was Willie: crusty on the outside, inside soft to the bone.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 19 June 2024
Made of all plastic on the outside, this one-pound desktop feels reasonably sturdy and flex-free.
—PCMAG, 19 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for on the outside
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on the outside.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on the outside
Cite this Entry
“On the outside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20outside. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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