output
B2 / HighNeutral / Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The amount or result of something produced, especially by a process, machine, or system.
The data or signals produced by a computer or other device; the power, energy, or work delivered by an electrical or mechanical system; the action or process of producing something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Output" primarily functions as a noun referring to the product of a process, but is also a verb meaning 'to produce or supply' (especially data). It is used in concrete (e.g., factory goods) and abstract (e.g., creative work) contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is highly similar. The verb is slightly more common in computing contexts in both varieties. No significant spelling or meaning differences.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both. May imply measurable efficiency or productivity.
Frequency
Very high frequency in technical, business, and academic contexts in both UK and US English. Comparable everyday frequency.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[N] output of N (the output of the factory)[V] to output N (The program will output a file)[ADJ] + output (high output)output + [V] (output increased)[V] + output (to measure output)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'output']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to goods produced, services delivered, or overall productivity of a company or sector.
Academic
Used in economics, engineering, computing, and sciences to denote quantifiable results of a process or system.
Everyday
Can refer to work produced, creative results, or the amount of something made (e.g., 'my output in the garden').
Technical
In computing: data sent from a program or device. In electronics/mechanics: the power, signal, or work produced.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The printer will output twenty copies.
- The system is designed to output data in real time.
- We need to output the results to a spreadsheet.
American English
- The software outputs a detailed report.
- You can output the file as a PDF.
- The sensor outputs a voltage signal.
adverb
British English
- [Rare/Non-standard. Typically not used as an adverb.]
American English
- [Rare/Non-standard. Typically not used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- The output signal was weak.
- Check the output voltage with a meter.
- We reviewed the output figures for the quarter.
American English
- The output device malfunctioned.
- Monitor the output level on the gauge.
- Her output quality is consistently high.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The factory has a big output.
- What is the output of your computer?
- We need to increase our daily output to meet the demand.
- The annual output of the farm was lower this year.
- The country's industrial output has risen steadily over the decade.
- The program's output can be saved as a text file for later analysis.
- Critics have praised the director's prodigious cinematic output over the last twenty years.
- The new policy aims to decouple economic growth from carbon output.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a factory: what comes OUT of it is its PUT (production). OUTPUT = what is 'put out'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRODUCTION IS A FLOW (output stream), SYSTEMS ARE BODIES (the system's output), INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY IS MANUFACTURING (academic output).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly using 'выход' for all contexts; 'выход' often means 'exit'. Use 'выпуск продукции', 'производство', 'результат', or 'вывод данных' depending on context.
- The verb 'to output' is best translated as 'выводить (данные)' in computing or 'производить' in general.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'output' as a countable noun without an article when specific ('We measured the output' not 'We measured output').
- Confusing 'output' with 'outcome' (output is what is produced, outcome is the final consequence).
- Incorrect verb conjugation: 'outputted' or 'output' as past tense are both accepted, but 'output' is more common in IT.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'output' used as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually uncountable when referring to a general amount (e.g., 'increase output'). It can be countable when referring to specific types or instances (e.g., 'the outputs of various processes').
Both 'output' and 'outputted' are used. In computing and technical contexts, 'output' is often preferred (e.g., 'The program output the file'). 'Outputted' is also correct and may be used in more general contexts.
'Output' is the tangible or immediate product of a process. 'Outcome' is the final result or consequence, often broader and longer-term. For example, a factory's output is cars; the outcome of a training programme is improved skills.
Yes, it is common to refer to an artist's, writer's, or composer's 'output' meaning the total body of work they have produced.
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