out of form

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of form" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is not performing at their usual level, often in sports or other competitive contexts. Example: "After a long break, the athlete was clearly out of form during the competition." Alternative expressions include "off form" and "not in shape."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The expectation is that the out of form Gary Ballance will be replaced, but by whom?

The Guardian - Sport

It doesn't mean you're out of form.

Independent

"But I don't feel like I'm out of form.

The Guardian - Sport

The Broncos, again, are not out of form.

The Guardian - Sport

Spot the celebrity!Overweight and out of form?

The Economist

Yet Van Gaal refused to state the striker is out of form.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

The reliance on out-of-form players is Rehhagel's mistake.

The Guardian - Sport

It is giving Jonathan Trott his debut in place of the out-of-form Ravi Bopara.

The New York Times - Sports

12.10pm: Robinho, who was excellent against North Korea, has defended the out-of-form Kaka.

The Guardian - Sport

The out-of-form Ian Bell was less successful; he made 14 in England's total of 272 for four declared.

The Guardian - Sport

Stuart Broad has admitted England have been targeting the out-of-form Australia captain Michael Clarke during the Ashes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In sports writing, use this phrase to provide context for an athlete's recent statistics or results without necessarily implying a permanent decline in skill.

Common error

Avoid omitting hyphens when the phrase acts as an adjective before a noun. While you write 'The striker is "out of form"', you must use hyphens in 'the "out-of-form" striker'. This prevents ambiguity and follows standard English compound modifier rules.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of form" functions as an adjectival prepositional phrase. It is most commonly used in a predicative position following a linking verb to modify the subject of the sentence. According to Ludwig, it characterizes a person's current state of performance as being below their established baseline.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

92%

Sports Journalism

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0.5%

Science

0.3%

Wiki

0.2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of form" is a standard and highly effective way to describe a temporary decline in performance. Data from Ludwig shows that it is a staple of sports and news journalism, used by major publications like The Guardian and BBC. A key takeaway for writers is the distinction between predicative and attributive use: always remember to use hyphens when the phrase precedes a noun, as in an ""out-of-form"" athlete. While synonymous with phrases like "off form" or "underperforming", it remains one of the most recognized terms for discussing fluctuations in skill and success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off form

Common in British English and slightly more informal than the query.

underperforming

A more clinical or professional term often used in business or formal analysis.

slumping

Suggests a prolonged or continuous period of poor performance rather than a single instance.

struggling

Emphasizes the difficulty the person is having rather than just the result.

not in shape

Often implies a lack of physical fitness or preparation as the cause.

rusty

Specifically suggests that the poor performance is due to a lack of recent practice.

lackluster

Focuses on the lack of energy or brilliance in the performance itself.

in a lean patch

An idiomatic expression common in sports journalism, especially cricket.

subpar

Focuses on the performance being below a quantifiable or expected standard.

below par

Originally from golf, it indicates that something is not as good as it should be.

FAQs

How do I use "out of form" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's current performance level, for example: 'The team decided to bench the player because he was clearly "out of form" during the last three matches'.

What is the difference between "out of form" and "off form"?

Both phrases are very similar and often interchangeable. However, "out of form" is more common in international sports journalism, while "off form" is frequently used in British English to describe a temporary lapse in quality.

Should "out of form" be hyphenated?

It depends on its position. When it follows the noun (e.g., 'he is "out of form"'), do not use hyphens. When it precedes the noun as a modifier, use hyphens: '"out-of-form"'.

What can I say instead of "out of form"?

Depending on the context, you could use "underperforming" for a formal tone, "struggling" to show difficulty, or "off form" for a more casual reference.