outfight

verb out·fight \ ˌau̇t-ˈfīt \

Updated on: 31 Mar 2018

Definition of outfight

outfought play \ˌau̇t-ˈfȯt\; outfighting

transitive verb

: to outdo or surpass in fighting or competing : to fight or compete harder or more skillfully than

The southpaw went down from a counter left hook to the chin in the fifth … but appeared to outhustle and outfight Bujaj most of the way.
—Bob Velin

… Minnesota's pedestrian DBs [=defensive backs] could not outfight Penn State's big receivers.
—David Jones

See outfight defined for kids

Recent Examples of outfight from the Web

But the Todd Pletcher-trainee showed his class down the lane and outfought Lone Sailor to the wire under jockey John Velasquez.

— brett duke, NOLA.com, "Saints' Thomas Morstead shaves his head for a cause," 24 Mar. 2018
Trubisky put Chicago ahead 17-3 in the third quarter with an on-the-run, 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dion Sims, who outfought Tony Jefferson for the ball in the end zone.

— USA TODAY, "Bears beat Ravens 27-24 in overtime as Jordan Howard rushes for 167 yards," 15 Oct. 2017
The drive also featured the highlight of the first half as Banks broke a sure tackle and found Clewis, who outfought a defender for the catch at the 9-yard-line.

— joseph halm, NOLA.com, "Missed opportunities prove critical in Tulane's 17-16 homecoming loss to Cincinnati," 6 Nov. 2017
First, Rasul Douglas outfought Kelvin Benjamin and knocked away a pass in the end zone.

— les bowen, Philly.com, "Eagles earned a front-row seat for this weekend's NFL action," 13 Oct. 2017
Soutache, a 4-1 shot who was one of four entered by trainer Ralph Nicks, outfought World of Trouble in the final yards, setting a stakes record 1:22.46 in the process under Eric Cancel, who came south from Saratoga for the mount.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Marlins Man's filly wins Sire Stakes," 3 Sep. 2017
On Thursday, Monfils simply outfought Donald Young, breaking the American at 5-5 in the decisive set and walking off a winner 6-3, 6-7, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Roger Federer's Bizarre Win, Longest U.S. Open Women's Match Headline Day 4," 31 Aug. 2017
But each time, the warriors outfought them, and the families and their horse herd proved far more nimble on rough terrain.

— daniel j. sharfstein, Slate Magazine, "“We Only Ask an Even Chance to Live as Other Men Live”," 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outfight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.