outbound

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "outbound" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that is leaving a place. For example, you might say: "The outbound bus will depart at 4 pm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Consequently, Bollywood today plays a leading role in introducing alluring overseas destinations to India, currently the fastest-growing outbound tourist market in the world.

The Guardian

I barely noticed it on my outbound journey.

The Guardian - Travel

Britain accounts for about a quarter of India's outbound stock of FDI.Big companies with predictable staffing needs and lots of lawyers can navigate the visa maze.

The Economist

Until recently most outbound dealmaking was by state firms buying up raw materials.

The Economist

More than half of western India's outbound capacity crashed, messing up the country's outsourcing industry.

The Economist

Companies have taken to creating baffling jobs such as "outbound specialist".

The Economist

Chinese outbound investment has fallen in recent months, putting the "within two years" forecast in doubt.

The Economist

In Europe, P&G uses some 2,000 trucks a day just for outbound deliveries.

The Economist

Seizures of drugs in outbound shipping from Ecuador's ports fell to just 4 tonnes last year, from 12 tonnes in 2003.

The Economist

Deutsche Bank estimates that outbound investment reduced Japan's trade balance by as much as 16 trillion yen in 2012, by providing local substitutes for Japanese exports.

The Economist

"Little brother cannot fight with big brother," she says.At the best of times, cross-border casinos are risky investments, since China often cracks down on outbound gamblers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing travel or shipping, use "outbound" to clearly indicate departures or movement away from a specific location. For example, "outbound flights" or "outbound shipments".

Common error

Avoid using "outgoing" when you specifically mean something is departing from a location. "Outgoing" often refers to personality or communication, while "outbound" is better for physical departures.

Linguistic Context

The word "outbound" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate direction or movement away from a specific location. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples, such as "outbound flights" and "outbound shipments".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

30%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outbound" functions primarily as an adjective to indicate movement away from a specific location, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, business, and travel, with a neutral register. Common examples include "outbound flights" and "outbound shipments". While alternatives like "departing" and "leaving" exist, "outbound" offers precision in scheduled departures. It's important not to confuse "outbound" with "outgoing", which often refers to personality. According to Ludwig, the term is both grammatically correct and very common.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outgoing

Indicates movement away from a central point, mirroring the directionality of "outbound".

departing

Focuses on the act of leaving, similar to "outbound" when referring to transportation or shipments.

leaving

A general term for going away from a place, comparable to "outbound" in its directional sense.

moving away

Emphasizes the action of distancing from a location, similar to "outbound"'s directional implication.

onward

Suggests a continuation of a journey or process, similar to "outbound" in the context of travel.

seaward

Specifically indicates movement towards the sea, a specific type of "outbound" direction.

heading out

An informal expression for starting a journey or departure, comparable to "outbound" in casual contexts.

toward exit

Describes the direction of movement, highlighting the "out" aspect of "outbound".

offshore

Implies movement away from the shore, a more specific context than the broader "outbound".

international

In the context of investment or tourism, indicates movement outside national borders, related to the concept of "outbound" activities.

FAQs

How can I use "outbound" in a sentence?

You can use "outbound" to describe departures, like "The "outbound flight" is delayed" or "We track all "outbound shipments" carefully".

What's the difference between "outbound" and "inbound"?

"Outbound" refers to something leaving a location, while "inbound" refers to something arriving at a location. For example, "Outbound travel" means traveling away from a place, and "inbound travel" means traveling to a place.

What can I say instead of "outbound"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "departing", "leaving", or "outgoing". However, "outbound" is often more precise when referring to scheduled departures in transportation or shipping.

Is it correct to say "outbound specialist"?

Yes, it's a valid job title, as evidenced by its usage in business contexts. The term "outbound specialist" typically refers to someone who focuses on tasks or activities related to things leaving a company or organization.