outplay

verb

out·​play ˌau̇t-ˈplā How to pronounce outplay (audio)
outplayed; outplaying; outplays

transitive verb

: to play better than
especially : to outdo in playing a game
The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter, but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win … The Times Union (Albany, New York)

Examples of outplay in a Sentence

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.
By the end of the year, though, Walker had outplayed Nijman and won the job. Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025 While Brooklyn attorney Kyle Fraser ultimately outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted the competition to claim the $1 million prize in a nail-biting 5-2-1 jury vote, our local hero, Mitch Guerra, ended his Fijian adventure as the seventh member of the jury. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 Kevin Love outplayed his father, but Stan Love’s association with the Beach Boys stood out. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025 Finally, the Amazins’ managed to outplay the one NL East rival that always seems to have their number. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for outplay

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outplay was in 1702

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outplay. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

outplay

verb
out·​play
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈplā
: to play better than
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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