come out

To move from inside a place to outside, often towards the speaker.

• Come out and play!
• A mouse came out of the cupboard.
• She came out into the garden with a cup of tea.

How to use it: come out of somewhere (A bird came out of the chimney.)

Similar words: emerge, exit

Opposites: enter

Common phrases: come out here, come out slowly, come out together

If a fact or secret does this, people find out about it.

• The truth came out yesterday.
• More details will come out during the trial.
• It came out that she had paid for everything.

How to use it: it comes out that… (It came out that the manager had hidden the report.)

Similar words: come to light, be revealed, emerge

Common phrases: come out eventually, come out publicly, come out later

To appear where other people can see you.

• The singer came out smiling.
• She came out onto the balcony and waved.
• The children cheered when the actor came out onstage.

How to use it: come out from behind something (The actor came out from behind the curtain.)

Similar words: appear, emerge

Opposites: disappear

Common phrases: come out onstage, come out smiling, come out waving

If a book, film, or other product does this, it becomes available to the public.

• Her book comes out tomorrow.
• The film came out last summer.
• When will the next issue come out?

How to use it: come out in/on a date (The new album comes out on Friday.)

Similar words: be released, be published, appear

Common phrases: come out tomorrow, come out soon, come out online

To tell other people that you are gay.

• He decided to come out.
• She came out to her closest friends first.
• After coming out as gay, he felt more comfortable with himself.

How to use it: come out to someone (He came out to his parents last year.); come out as gay/lesbian (She came out as lesbian at university.)

Similar words: come out of the closet

Common phrases: come out publicly, come out proudly, come out privately