1 C1 neutral
To hold the hand with the palm facing outward, as a gesture of stopping, greeting, or showing emptiness.
"She palmed out her hand in a clear signal for the crowd to stop advancing."
inseparable
palm out
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To extend the hand with the palm facing outward, as a gesture.
In plain English
Hold your hand out flat with the inside facing away from you, like a 'stop' signal.
What does "palm out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To turn the palm to face outward — fully transparent.
Actually means
Hold your hand out flat with the inside facing away from you, like a 'stop' signal.
Usage tip
Rarely used as a fixed phrasal verb; more commonly described in gesture or dance instruction contexts. Not widely established in dictionaries as a standard phrasal verb.
Words that pair with "palm out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hand gesture signal stop greeting
How to conjugate "palm out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
palm out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
palms out
he/she/it
Past simple
palmed out
yesterday
Past participle
palmed out
have + pp
-ing form
palming out
continuous
Hear "palm out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "palm out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "palm out"
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Keep exploring
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