outdo

verb

out·​do ˌau̇t-ˈdü How to pronounce outdo (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to go beyond in action or performance
2
Choose the Right Synonym for outdo

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree.

exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of outdo in a Sentence

Smaller companies often outdo larger ones in customer service. My sister always tried to outdo me in school. She scored 20 points in the first game. Not to be outdone, I scored 30 points myself in the second game.
Recent Examples on the Web The Wolf of Wall Street is also the fastest three-hour movie ever made — editor Thelma Schoonmaker definitively outdoes herself here, making a story that spans a decade feel breezy but never rushed thanks to terse montages. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 That's not stopping some well-heeled tech companies from trying to keep outdoing each other in showing off higher-quality AI video generation at longer durations. Matt O'Brien, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 There has been some excellent cricket with the visiting rookie spinning attack outdoing the home tweakers in the first couple of games. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 The Halberstadt performance, though, outdoes any other. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 As a show of laser lights and bone-jarring beats went on in the background, about a dozen national television channels tried to outdo each other in what for most has become a guiding mission: to shine a favorable spotlight on the prime minister’s every move. Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2024 Not to be outdone, the Gossip Girl alumna responded a few days later with a picture of herself, nonchalantly posed next to the Deadpool trailer Ryan had in his post. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 Not to be outdone, goaltender Filip Gustavsson rose to the occasion, too, posting 27 saves for the Wild. Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 13 Feb. 2024 Not to be outdone, the flybridge is home to a vast relaxation space with a Jacuzzi and lounges. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outdo.' 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

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outdo was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near outdo

Cite this Entry

“Outdo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outdo. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

outdo

verb
out·​do -ˈdü How to pronounce outdo (audio)
outdid -ˈdid How to pronounce outdo (audio) ; outdone -ˈdən How to pronounce outdo (audio) ; outdoing -ˈdü-iŋ How to pronounce outdo (audio)
: to go beyond in achievement or performance

More from Merriam-Webster on outdo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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