-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
butt out
verb
butted out; butting out; butts out
: to cease interference or involvement
told him to butt out of my affairs
Examples of butt out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If there is a willing employer and a willing migrant worker, the government should butt out.
—Tj Hutchinson, The Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2024
Driving home from a pre-production cast and crew dinner on The Godfather, Duvall dared Caan to stick his butt out the car window and moon Marlon Brando, sitting in the car across the way.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 Mar. 2022
Officials have pleaded with residents to adhere to a statewide burn ban, stressing that something as small as throwing a cigarette butt out a car window, sparks from dragging safety trailer chains, warm exhaust pipes on grass, or even cooking outside could lead to devastating consequences.
—Sara Cline, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2023
Your mom has one mandate here: to apologize, make amends and butt out.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
Tell Google to butt out.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2021
Say something or butt out?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022
In other words, butt out.
—Bea Lewis, sun-sentinel.com, 23 Nov. 2021
China is sending a blunt message to the U.S.: butt out of our domestic affairs or the Phase One trade deal will be in jeopardy.
—Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 29 June 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butt out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1906, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near butt out
Cite this Entry
“Butt out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butt%20out. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
butt out
verb
: to stop meddling in someone else's business
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share