OUT OF THE WAY

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does out of the way mean? 

• OUT OF THE WAY (adjective)
  The adjective OUT OF THE WAY has 4 senses:

1. improper or even offensive

2. dealt with; disposed of

3. exceptional, unusual, or remarkable

4. remote from populous or much-traveled regions

  Familiarity information: OUT OF THE WAY used as an adjective is uncommon.

• OUT OF THE WAY (adverb)
  The adverb OUT OF THE WAY has 5 senses:

1. extraordinary; unusual

2. improper; amiss

3. in a remote location or at a distance from the usual route

4. murdered

5. so as not to obstruct or hinder

  Familiarity information: OUT OF THE WAY used as an adverb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OUT OF THE WAY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Improper or even offensive

Synonyms:

out-of-the-way; out of the way

Context example:

out-of-the-way remarks

Similar:

improper (not suitable or right or appropriate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dealt with; disposed of

Synonyms:

out-of-the-way; out of the way

Context example:

I'm so relieved that my midterm is out of the way

Similar:

finished (ended or brought to an end)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exceptional, unusual, or remarkable

Synonyms:

out-of-the-way; out of the ordinary; out of the way

Context example:

out-of-the-way information

Similar:

unusual (not usual or common or ordinary)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Remote from populous or much-traveled regions

Synonyms:

off the beaten track; out-of-the-way; out of the way

Context example:

they found a quiet out-of-the-way resort

Similar:

far (located at a great distance in time or space or degree)

• OUT OF THE WAY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Extraordinary; unusual

Context example:

such erratic behavior was out of the way for him

Sense 2

Meaning:

Improper; amiss

Sense 3

Meaning:

In a remote location or at a distance from the usual route

Sense 4

Meaning:

Murdered

Context example:

the mob boss wanted his rival out of the way

Sense 5

Meaning:

So as not to obstruct or hinder

Context example:

put that box out of the way so that no one trips on it

 Context examples 

"It would be so much better," she said, "if she could only get out of the way for a month or two, till all was over."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She was not in the drawing-room when I presented Agnes to her little aunts, but was shyly keeping out of the way.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I don't see how he can help it, and I do believe he would if the rest of us were out of the way.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

We have a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily get her out of the way.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In that corner, however, it is at least out of the way.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He’s an extraordinary looking man, and yet I really can name nothing out of the way.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He came back—or someone came back—when all witnesses were out of the way.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The captain was in the porch, keeping himself carefully out of the way of a treacherous shot, should any be intended.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I would not have been out of the way for a thousand pounds.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I suppose he thought that he could make better time by getting out of the way of the market carts.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)