outnumber

verb

out·​num·​ber ˌau̇t-ˈnəm-bər How to pronounce outnumber (audio)
outnumbered; outnumbering; outnumbers

transitive verb

: to exceed in number

Examples of outnumber in a Sentence

With 20 girls and 10 boys in the class, girls outnumber boys by 2 to 1.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Eagles were outnumbered and didn’t have an option element to account for the extra defender. Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025 Since 2011, there has been a significant increase in commercial space launch activity, with launches from outside companies, such as SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin, outnumbering those from NASA by a factor of eight to one. Mariette Williams, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 And, as the Pew study shows, the latter clearly outnumber the former, at least in recent years. Big Think, 9 Oct. 2025 Men far outnumbered women, and a bright ribbon of divorce wove through the older males, girding some and racing toward others. Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outnumber

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outnumber was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outnumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outnumber. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

outnumber

verb
out·​num·​ber (ˈ)au̇t-ˈnəm-bər How to pronounce outnumber (audio)
: to be more than in number
girls outnumber boys in the class

More from Merriam-Webster on outnumber

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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