cook out
B1 informal inseparable both
In simple words
To grill food outside, like at a barbecue.
Literal meaning: To cook in an outdoor setting.
Meanings
1 B1 informal
To cook food outdoors on a grill or over an open fire.
"We're planning to cook out this Saturday if the weather holds up."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 informal
To host or attend an outdoor cooking event or party (often used as 'cookout' noun).
"They threw a big cookout for the whole neighborhood on the Fourth of July."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Primarily American English. Very common in casual summer social contexts. 'Cookout' (one word) is also a widely used noun referring to an outdoor barbecue event. Less commonly used in British English, where 'barbecue' is preferred for both the event and the verb.
Commonly used with
burgers hot dogs grill backyard party summer
Forms
Base
cook out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cooks out
he/she/it
Past simple
cooked out
yesterday
Past participle
cooked out
have + pp
-ing form
cooking out
continuous
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Synonyms
barbecue grill have a barbecue grill out
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