Takeout is food you order from a restaurant but eat somewhere else, usually at home. Instead of sitting down at the restaurant, you pick up your meal at the counter or have it delivered to your door. The food comes in containers designed to travel: paper bags, cardboard boxes, or plastic containers with lids that keep everything secure.

When your family orders takeout, you might call ahead to place your order, then drive to pick it up when it's ready. Or you might use a delivery service that brings the food right to your house. Chinese takeout, pizza, and burgers are popular choices, but many restaurants now offer takeout versions of their full menus.

People often order takeout when they want restaurant food without the time or expense of dining in, or when they simply prefer eating at home. Some restaurants focus mainly on takeout and delivery rather than having many tables for customers.

You might also hear people say “carryout,” which means the same thing. If you're getting takeout for dinner, you're bringing restaurant food home instead of cooking or eating at the restaurant.