: being such completely at all times, in every way, or from every point of view
an out-and-out fraud

Examples of out-and-out in a Sentence

an out-and-out cheater at every game she plays her story is not just an exaggeration, it's an out-and-out lie mounted an out-and-out effort to find the lost child
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
With Hollywood still one of the top donors to the Democrats, those conversations alternate from cautious optimism to dismay to out-and-out anger. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024 Moreover, the three-chair turn performed the number with dazzling control and an out-and-out joy that warmed even my cold, cold heart. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Oct. 2024 Four of those series involve rich white women and some kind of death shrouded in suspicion, if not an out-and-out murder mystery. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 13 Sep. 2024 But across Europe, radical right-wingers – from authoritarian-minded populists to out-and-out Nazis – are wielding increasing influence on mainstream parties. Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for out-and-out 

Word History

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of out-and-out was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near out-and-out

Cite this Entry

“Out-and-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out-and-out. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

out-and-out

adjective
ˌau̇t-ᵊn-ˈ(d)au̇t
: being exactly what is stated : complete, thoroughgoing
an out-and-out crook

More from Merriam-Webster on out-and-out

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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