completely out of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely out of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is entirely lacking or depleted. Example: "We are completely out of milk, so we need to go to the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Hugh Bonneville: That's completely out of context.

Independent

We are completely out of our depth".

The New York Times - Sports

It was just completely out of control.

The New Yorker

It sounds completely out of character".

The New York Times

"It's gotten completely out of control".

The New York Times

"I was completely out of shape.

The New Yorker

It was completely out of control.

The New York Times - Magazine

Underground pipelines completely out of service.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"That's completely out of the question".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Those are completely out-of-control cars.

The New York Times

He became psychotic, completely out-of-control.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely out of" to emphasize a total lack or absence, differentiating it from a partial or near-complete state.

Common error

Avoid using "completely out of" with adjectives that are gradable (e.g., "completely out of happy"). The phrase is best suited for situations where something is entirely absent or depleted, not partially present.

Linguistic Context

"Completely out of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a total lack, absence, or depletion of something. Ludwig AI shows the phrase is frequently used to express that something is no longer available or applicable. For example, "completely out of ideas" or "completely out of touch".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

17%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completely out of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to express a total lack or absence. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, including news, business, and general writing. While alternatives like "entirely devoid of" exist, the phrase remains a straightforward and effective way to communicate a state of depletion or unavailability. Be sure to use it with countable or uncountable nouns or with more appropriate adjectives that can express a total deficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely devoid of

Emphasizes the total absence of something.

totally lacking in

Highlights a complete deficiency in a particular quality or resource.

absolutely devoid of

Reinforces the idea of a total absence with a stronger emphasis.

utterly bereft of

A more formal and literary way to express a complete lack of something.

fully exhausted of

Focuses on the idea of resources being completely used up.

entirely without

A simpler alternative focusing on the absence of something.

wholly absent from

Stresses the entire non-existence or exclusion of something.

completely missing from

Highlights that something is not present or included.

totally excluded from

Implies a complete removal or barring from something.

entirely separate from

Indicates a complete disconnection or independence from something else.

FAQs

How can I use "completely out of" in a sentence?

The phrase "completely out of" indicates a total lack or absence. For example, "We are completely out of milk" or "The project is completely out of date".

What are some alternatives to "completely out of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "entirely devoid of", "totally lacking in", or "absolutely devoid of".

Is it appropriate to use "completely out of" in formal writing?

Yes, "completely out of" is acceptable in formal writing, though alternatives like "entirely devoid of" might be preferred for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "completely out of" and "partially out of"?

"Completely out of" signifies a total absence, while "partially out of" implies that some amount remains. For example, if you are "completely out of" milk, there is no milk left, while "partially out of" means there is some milk, but not a full supply.