map out
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
Make a detailed plan that shows all the steps you need to take.
Literal meaning: To draw a map showing where things are — the figurative sense extends this to plans and processes.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
neutral
To plan or describe something in detail, covering all stages or elements.
"Before we start, let's map out the entire project timeline."
Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral
To draw or describe a literal route or geographical area in detail.
"The explorers spent weeks mapping out the river delta."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Very common in business, academic, and strategic contexts. Can be used literally (map out a route) or figuratively (map out a career). Both separable forms are natural: 'map it out' and 'map out the strategy'.
Commonly used with
strategy plan route career future steps
Forms
Base
map out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
maps out
he/she/it
Past simple
maped out
yesterday
Past participle
maped out
have + pp
-ing form
maping out
continuous
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Synonyms
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