outplay
verb
out·play
ˌau̇t-ˈplā 
outplayed; outplaying; outplays
: 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)
The Times Union (Albany, New York) Examples of outplay in a Sentence
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One game after taking a 3-0 first-period lead into the second period until things disintegrated, the Panthers outplayed the Oilers dramatically in the first period Saturday night to carry a 2-0 lead into the second.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 June 2025
But Haliburton is the Pacers’ engine, and he was significantly outplayed by the game’s other big-name point guard in Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored an efficient 34 points with eight assists.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025
Brunson, outplayed by his point guard counterpart Tuesday, rebounded with his franchise-record 21st postseason game of 30 or more points with the Knicks.
—Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
And a -1 in point differential after outplaying the Pacers for 47 minutes and change.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
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Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 June 2025
But Haliburton is the Pacers’ engine, and he was significantly outplayed by the game’s other big-name point guard in Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored an efficient 34 points with eight assists.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025
Brunson, outplayed by his point guard counterpart Tuesday, rebounded with his franchise-record 21st postseason game of 30 or more points with the Knicks.
—Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
And a -1 in point differential after outplaying the Pacers for 47 minutes and change.
—Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for outplay
Cite this Entry
“Outplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outplay. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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