outs
word · lemma: out
Definition
In baseball and some other sports, 'outs' are plays that remove a player or team from having a turn. Also, 'outs' can mean ways of escaping difficult situations, though this is less common.
Usage & Nuances
'Outs' is most commonly used in sports contexts, especially baseball. It's always plural in this sense; 'out' means one, 'outs' means more than one. In non-sports use (ways to escape), it sounds formal or literary and is rare in daily English.
Example Sentences
There are two outs in the inning.
basic
He caught the ball for the last out.
basic
The team needs three outs to win.
basic
With two outs and bases loaded, the game got intense.
natural
Watch out! We only have one more out left before we change sides.
natural
Some players always look for outs when they're in trouble, but it doesn't always work.
natural