out-of-bounds

adverb or adjective

: outside the prescribed or conventional boundaries or limits
If the Frisbee hits the ground or soars out-of-bounds, it changes hands.John Bowermaster
Only a few yards over the green are out-of-bounds markers.Jeff Gerth
Our slate is going to have edgier films that aren't exactly out-of-bounds for children, but that are really made for more sophisticated audiences.David Hochman

Examples of out-of-bounds in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Most years this can be a reshaping of the plants by selectively removing out-of-bounds shoots and dead or declining portions. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2025 The commercial shows slow-motion footage of a horse near the out-of-bounds line, followed by a humorous replay scene with a zebra with its head in a booth. Todd Holmes, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025 On a side out-of-bounds play drawn up by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra with 3.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Adebayo caught the inbounds pass from Nikola Jovic and quickly dribbled into a 19-foot midrange jumper that went in right as the final buzzer sounded. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Feb. 2025 Isaiah Likely's toe out-of-bounds in Week 1 on a game-tying touchdown on the final play of the game? Scott Thompson, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for out-of-bounds

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of out-of-bounds was in 1798

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Out-of-bounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/out-of-bounds. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

out-of-bounds

adverb or adjective
ˌau̇t-ə(v)-ˈbau̇n(d)z
: outside the limits of the playing area
the pass went out-of-bounds
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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