outlet
gb/ˈaʊtlˌɛt/ us/ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
A2
English
~ 3500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Device for plugging into electricity
A place in the wall where you can plug in electrical things to get power.
Usage pattern:
plug [something] into an outlet
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'outlet' with 'power strip,' which is a separate device with multiple sockets.
Synonyms
socket (Common British English term for the same device.)
Antonyms
power source (Opposite in that it refers to the origin of electricity, not the access point.)
Collocations
electrical outlet
|wall outlet
|power outlet
|plug into an outlet
Themes
daily life
|technology
|home
|daily_life
|housing
Examples
- I need to find an outlet to charge my phone.
- The lamp won't turn on because the outlet is broken.
- There aren't enough outlets in this room for all our devices.
Learner examples
- I plug my phone into the outlet.
- The outlet is on the wall.
- There is one outlet near my bed.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Store selling goods directly
A store that sells products, sometimes cheaper than normal stores.
Usage pattern:
[someone] buys [something] from an outlet
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'outlet' with 'mall,' but an outlet is usually a single store or a group of discount stores.
Synonyms
store (More general term; does not imply discount or direct-from-manufacturer sales.)
Antonyms
wholesaler (Sells goods in bulk to businesses, not directly to consumers.)
Collocations
factory outlet
|outlet store
|brand outlet
Themes
business
|shopping
|daily_life
|finance
Examples
- They opened a new factory outlet on the highway.
- I bought these shoes at an outlet store for half price.
- The brand has several outlets across the country.
Learner examples
- I got this bag from an outlet.
- We go to the outlet to buy clothes.
- The outlet sells cheap shoes.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Way to express feelings or ideas
Something you use to show your feelings or energy, like art or sports.
Usage pattern:
[something] is an outlet for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with physical outlets like sockets or stores; context is important.
Synonyms
release (Focuses on letting go of feelings rather than the channel itself.)
Antonyms
suppression (The act of holding back emotions instead of expressing them.)
Collocations
creative outlet
|emotional outlet
|outlet for anger
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Painting became her main creative outlet.
- Sports can be a healthy outlet for stress.
- Writing gave him an outlet for his thoughts.
Learner examples
- Drawing is my outlet for stress.
- Music is his outlet for feelings.
- Talking is her outlet for problems.
Noun
B2
entity
4
Opening for releasing something
A hole or pipe where water, air, or other things can go out.
Synonyms
vent (Usually refers specifically to air or gas release openings.)
Antonyms
inlet (An opening where something enters instead of leaves.)
Collocations
water outlet
|air outlet
|drainage outlet
Themes
science
|engineering
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The sink has an outlet for wastewater.
- Steam escaped from the small outlet at the top of the tank.
- The river has several outlets to the sea.
Learner examples
- The pipe has an outlet for water.
- Air comes out from the outlet.
- The lake has one outlet to the river.
Grammar
Dictionary form
outlet
IPA
GB/ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
US/ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
Syllables & stress
out - let (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (out)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: outlet
- Plural: outlets
Word family
Expressions
factory outlet
1/fˈæktɚi ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
fixed phrase
Store selling direct from factory
A store that sells products directly from the factory, often cheaper than normal shops.
Examples
- I bought these jeans at a factory outlet for half price.
- Factory outlets are great places to find deals on brand-name products.
power outlet
1/pˈaʊɚ ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
fixed phrase
Electrical socket in wall
A place in the wall where you can plug in electrical things to get power.
Examples
- There’s a power outlet next to your seat on the train.
- I need an adapter for this type of power outlet.
shopping outlet
1/ʃˈɑpɪŋ ˈaʊtlˌɛt/
fixed phrase
Discount retail store
A store where you can buy things cheaper than normal stores.
Examples
- We spent the afternoon at the new shopping outlet outside town.
- Many tourists visit the shopping outlets for bargains.