à outrance

adverb

à ou·​trance ˌä-ˌü-ˈträⁿs How to pronounce à outrance (audio)
: to the limit : unsparingly

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of à outrance was in 1819

Browse Nearby Words

Aoul
à outrance
Aoyama's fluid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“à outrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A0%20outrance. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

A Guide to Using Semicolons

More Words You Always Have to Look Up

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Is 'kryptonite' a real word?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is 'kryptonite' a real word?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a plate of arepas
Name That Dish! Some mouth-watering food for thought
See All