In baseball, an "out" occurs when a player is retired from a play, meaning they can no longer participate in that particular turn at bat. There are several ways a player can be called out, such as striking out, being tagged out while running the bases, or hitting a ball that is caught before it touches the ground. Each team aims to get three outs per half-inning to switch roles between batting and fielding. In softball, the concept of outs is similar to baseball, with players also being retired through various methods. The main goal for the defensive team is to accumulate three outs to end the opposing team's turn at bat. Understanding how outs work is essential for both players and fans to appreciate the game's strategy and flow.