went out

USAGE SUMMARY

'went out' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing someone's movements. For example: "I saw John go into the store, and then five minutes later he went out again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

France went out early.

Independent

I went out alone.

The New York Times - Sports

"Maman went out".

The New Yorker

The lights went out.

The New York Times - Sports

"We went out there.

The New York Times

They went out alone.

The New York Times - Health

"I went out last weekend.

The New York Times - Arts

We went out flyering.

The New Yorker

I just went out.

Independent

Until the lights went out.

Independent

Then they went out entirely.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "went out" to describe someone leaving a place, a light ceasing to function, or a team being eliminated from a competition. The context will dictate the precise meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "went out" in passive constructions where a more direct verb is appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "The trash went out by John", prefer "John took out the trash".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "went out" is as a verb phrase, specifically the simple past tense of the phrasal verb "go out". Ludwig's examples show it used to describe leaving a location, ceasing to function, or being eliminated from a competition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "went out" functions primarily as the past tense of the phrasal verb "go out", serving to describe physical departures, cessation of functionality, or elimination from competitions. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and versatile, fitting in various contexts, though most prevalent in news and media. When employing "went out", consider the surrounding context to ensure clarity. For instances of a general departure, "left" might also work, while for ceasing to function, "stopped working" could be an alternative. For sports contexts "was eliminated" is more appropriate. Overall, this is a common and useful phrase across various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left

This is a simple and direct synonym for leaving a place.

exited

This alternative focuses on the act of leaving a place.

departed

This alternative emphasizes a formal or official departure.

was eliminated

This alternative is used when something or someone is removed or defeated, especially in a competition.

stopped working

This alternative focuses on the cessation of functionality, especially for devices or lights.

was knocked out

This alternative emphasizes a forceful or decisive removal from a competition.

ceased functioning

This alternative is a more formal way of saying something stopped working.

checked out

This alternative is a less formal way of saying someone left or stopped functioning.

retired

This alternative signifies a withdrawal or retreat from activity.

took off

This alternative denotes a quick or sudden departure.

FAQs

How can I use "went out" in a sentence?

You can use "went out" to describe leaving a place, such as "I "went out for a walk"". It can also describe something ceasing to function, like "The "lights went out"".

What does "went out" mean when talking about sports?

In sports, "went out" typically means that a team or player was eliminated from a competition. For example, "Our team "went out in the first round"".

What's the difference between "went out" and "left"?

"Left" is a more general term for departing a place. "Went out" often implies leaving for a specific purpose or activity. For instance, you might say "I left the house", but "I "went out to eat"" suggests a specific destination and activity.

Which is a better alternative to describe a failure, "went out" or "stopped working"?

"Stopped working" is usually a clearer and more direct alternative to describe a failure or malfunction, especially with machinery or technology. "Went out" is more commonly used for lights or flames, but "stopped working" is often interchangeable and less ambiguous. Example: "The "computer stopped working"".