Phrase guide

farm out

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To subcontract (a task, responsibility, etc.) to another; to outsource.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Topics: business

Examples

  • Near-synonym: sub out

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sub out

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To clear or clean out; empty out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England

Examples

  • Farm out the stable and pigsty.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

grant the services of or the temporary use of, for a fee

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We rent out our apartment to tourists every year
  • He hired himself out as a cook

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hire out, rent out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lend, loan

4

verb

Meaning 4

arranged for contracted work to be done by others

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: subcontract, job

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hire, engage, employ

History

Etymology

From farm + out.

From farm (“to cleanse, clean”) + out.