1 B1 neutral
To reach a middle or balanced result when all individual amounts are considered together.
"Some weeks I work sixty hours and some only thirty, but it averages out to around forty-five per week."
inseparable
average out
B1 neutral mixed transitive/intransitive
To result in a middle or balanced figure when all values are considered together.
In plain English
When lots of different amounts or results end up giving you a middle number when you add them all together.
What does "average out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To calculate the average of a set of numbers by dividing the total by the number of values.
"If you average out all the test scores, the class mean is 74 percent."
separable
3 B1 informal
For things to balance over time so that highs and lows cancel each other out.
"Don't worry about one bad month — it'll average out over the year."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To calculate an average figure across a range of numbers.
Actually means
When lots of different amounts or results end up giving you a middle number when you add them all together.
Usage tip
Can be used intransitively ('it averages out') or transitively ('if you average it out'). Very common in everyday conversation when discussing costs, grades, or performance over time. Often used with the preposition 'to' or 'at': 'It averaged out to about fifty dollars a week.'
Words that pair with "average out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
cost price income grade speed temperature
How to conjugate "average out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
average out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
averages out
he/she/it
Past simple
averaged out
yesterday
Past participle
averaged out
have + pp
-ing form
averaging out
continuous
Hear "average out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "average out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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