outrun

verb

out·​run ˌau̇t-ˈrən How to pronounce outrun (audio)
outran ˌau̇t-ˈran How to pronounce outrun (audio) ; outrun; outrunning

transitive verb

1
: to run faster than
2
: exceed, surpass
his ambitions outrun his abilities

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 Other species may not be able to outrun the rapid changes in their habitat and could simply die off. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023 In Lahaina, on the northwest side of the island, a number of residents and tourists jumped into the harbor off the coastline to outrun the out-of-control fire, according to Hawaii News Now. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2023 For-profit tutoring centers are where Egyptian families try to outrun their country’s decline. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2023 Relocating also let employers outrun unions; when workers organized urban factories, firms opened rural branches. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023 Cruise ships are fast enough to outrun the storms, and avoiding bad weather often simply results in a skipped port call; sometimes ships can even divert to alternate ports out of the storm’s path. Scott Laird, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023 The Northern Illinois transfer took it from there, outrunning Texas’ defense 62 yards to the end zone to bring a momentary hush over the home crowd. Corey Smith, Dallas News, 17 Sep. 2023 This need to outrun the unknown can lead to burnout. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 4 Oct. 2023 Seven years into the job, Vaccarello now has the composure of someone who’s managed to outrun the curse of taking over a brand like Saint Laurent. Nick Haramis Lise Sarfati Delphine Danhier, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outrun.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outrun was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near outrun

Cite this Entry

“Outrun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outrun. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

outrun

verb
out·​run (ˈ)au̇t-ˈrən How to pronounce outrun (audio)
outran -ˈran How to pronounce outrun (audio) ; outrun; outrunning
1
: to run or go faster than
2
: exceed sense 1
our needs outran our funds

More from Merriam-Webster on outrun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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