outflank

verb

out·​flank ˌau̇t-ˈflaŋk 

outflanked; outflanking; outflanks

transitive verb

1

: to get around the flank of (an opposing force)

2

: get around, circumvent

Examples of outflank in a Sentence

The army outflanked the enemy.

trying to outflank the competition

Recent Examples on the Web

Kennedy had entered office hoping to alter Washington’s reputation in the developing world by encouraging reform movements and decolonization as a way to outflank Moscow. —Timothy Naftali, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2025

Lee is outflanking Taylor in vote transfers from Webb and Tyron Jordan, the respective fifth- and third-place candidates. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025

For Iran, Hezbollah was supposed to be the cornerstone of its strategy to outflank superior adversaries, such as Israel, with armed proxies. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024

Russia is providing ever more political support to Haftar and could easily outflank Western policymakers by recognizing him and his allies in the House of Representatives as Libya’s legitimate government. —Jason Pack, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outflank

• gangplank
• nonbank
• sandbank
• antitank
• interbank
• mountebank
• riverbank
• banc
• bank
• blank
• clank
• crank

Kids Definition

outflank

verb

out·​flank (ˈ)au̇t-ˈflaŋk 

: to get around the side of (a military formation)

outflank the enemy