outrun

verb

out·​run ˌau̇t-ˈrən 

outran ˌau̇t-ˈran  ; outrun; outrunning

transitive verb

1

: to run faster than

2

: exceed, surpass

his ambitions outrun his abilities

Synonyms of outrun

• exceed
• surpass

Examples of outrun in a Sentence

The rabbit had no chance of outrunning the dogs.

His motorcycle could outrun any car on the road.

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, Victoria’s Secret tried to outrun its legacy of hyper‑narrow beauty standards with cautious rebrands and empowerment slogans that critics derided as box‑checking. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026

If humanoid robots can soon outrun and outtrain humans, where should limits be set on how and where they are allowed to operate? —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026

George gathers a defensive rebound, and Sarr, who starts this sequence underneath his defensive backboard, sprints upcourt, outrunning his Knicks counterpart, Karl-Anthony Towns. —Josh Robbins, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026

The girl tried to outrun the turning bus before she was hit, video of the horrific incident shows. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outrun

• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• pashtun
• redone
• rerun
• shotgun
• someone
• stepson

Kids Definition

outrun

verb

out·​run (ˈ)au̇t-ˈrən 

outran -ˈran  ; outrun; outrunning

1

: to run or go faster than

2

: exceed sense 1

our needs outran our funds