Meaning & use
outer area
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
The part of a place that is farthest from its middle or from where most activity happens.
Grammar: Countable: you can say an outer area, the outer area, or outer areas.
Patterns
- the outer area of something
- in the outer areas
- the outer area around something
The shops are in the outer area of the city, far from the main square.
Most visitors never leave the center, but the outer areas are worth a look.
The outer area of the park is quieter and has fewer people.
nouncountable
A part of something that lies on or near its outside edge rather than its center.
Grammar: Often used with of: the outer area of the screen, the outer area of the field.
Patterns
- the outer area of something
- on the outer area
Keep the text inside the outer area of the page so it prints properly.
The outer area of the image is slightly darker than the middle.
Word forms
| plural | outer areas |
|---|
Common combinations
- the outer area of the city
- Housing is cheaper in the outer area of the city.
- outer areas of the country
- Internet access is still poor in the outer areas of the country.
- the outer area of the screen
- Icons sit in the outer area of the screen.
- move to the outer area
- The market moved to the outer area of town last year.
- the outer area around the lake
- Farmers work the land in the outer area around the lake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- outskirts
- Use outskirts for the built-up edges of a town or city; outer area is more general and can describe any place or object.
- periphery
- Periphery is more formal and often means the edge of a system or idea, not just a physical place.
- fringe
- Fringe suggests the very edge and often carries the idea of being less important or less typical.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: outer area or outer space?
outer area vs outer space
Outer space means the region beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Outer area simply means a part farther from the middle of something.
Practice
Which sentence uses "outer area" correctly?
Choose one answer.
"Outer area" is a noun phrase meaning a part far from the middle, so it fits the first sentence. The second wrongly uses it like a comparative adjective, the third treats it as an animal, and the fourth uses it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “outer area”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.