outing

UK: ˈaʊtɪŋ | US: ˈaʊtɪŋ

Definition

  1. n. a short trip taken for pleasure or relaxation

  2. n. an instance of being publicly revealed or exposed (e.g., someone's identity)

  3. n. (sports) a team's performance in a game or competition away from their home venue

Structure
out <external, away>ing <noun suffix indicating action/result>
Etymology

The word "outing" combines the Old English root "out" (meaning "away from" or "external") with the suffix "-ing," which forms nouns denoting actions or results. Originally tied to the idea of "going out," its meaning expanded to include recreational trips (19th century) and later metaphorical exposures (20th century). The sports sense emerged from the concept of "playing away from home."

Examples

  1. We planned a family outing to the beach this weekend.

  2. The journalist faced criticism for the outing of the anonymous source.

  3. The team's poor outing last night disappointed their fans.

  4. School outings often include educational visits to museums.

  5. Her social media post accidentally led to the outing of her surprise party.