takeout
TAYK-owt
/ˈteɪk.aʊt/
Prepared food purchased at a restaurant to be consumed elsewhere.
Emphasizes taking food away from the premises to eat at home, at work, or outdoors.
The story behind the word. Formed directly from the phrasal verb 'take out,' this American English compound gained widespread popularity during the 1930s and 1940s as urban diners and Chinese restaurants began packaging hot meals in cardboard pails for workers to carry home.
Word relationships
- takeaway: 'Takeaway' is the primary British English term, whereas 'takeout' is standard in American and Canadian English.
- carryout: 'Carryout' is a regional North American synonym often used in the Midwest and South.
- dine-in: 'Dine-in' refers to consuming the meal at a table inside the establishment.
Commonly confused with
- delivery: Takeout requires the customer to pick up the food personally, whereas delivery involves a driver bringing it to the customer's location.
Collocations
- takeout container
- takeout order
- order takeout
- takeout box
Example sentences
- "Too tired to cook after work, they picked up takeout on their way home." Deciding not to cook dinner after a long workday.
- "The cashier asked whether the meal was for dine-in or takeout." Specifying the order type at a counter.
Memory hook
TAKE the food OUT of the restaurant to eat at home. Take it out to eat it.
When not to use
Do not use if the meal is consumed inside the restaurant's dining area.
Fun facts
- The iconic folded paper Chinese takeout container was originally patented in 1890 as an oyster pail.
- Takeout sales surpassed dine-in revenue for many casual restaurants during the early 2020s.
Related words
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