outstrip

verb

out·​strip ˌau̇t-ˈstrip 

outstripped; outstripping; outstrips

transitive verb

1

: to go faster or farther than

2

: to get ahead of

has civilization outstripped the ability of its users to use it?

—Margaret Mead

Synonyms

• beat
• better
• eclipse
• exceed
• excel
• outclass
• outdistance
• outdo
• outgun
• outmatch
• outshine
• overtop
• surpass
• top
• tower (over)
• transcend

Choose the Right Synonym for outstrip

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree.

exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of outstrip in a Sentence

The new hotel outstrips all other hotels in the area in size and luxury.

The fullback outstripped the defenders and scored a touchdown.

Recent Examples on the Web

The request vastly outstrips the current record fee in shareholder litigation of $688 million in an Enron class action, according to Stanford Law School. —Reuters, CNN, 9 July 2024

What Readers Loved The No. 1 Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, a mansion in central Cusco and a newcomer to the World’s Best Awards, outstripped the rest of the competition with a score of 98.18. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

There is no question that AI will soon outstrip humans in many respects, and Kurzweil is right to suspect that society will change considerably when computers can do our laundry, diagnose our diseases and conduct trials of new drugs. —Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 26 June 2024

Contending with electrification Although supply will outstrip demand in the next couple of years, oil demand will still be slightly higher in 2030 compared to current levels, thanks to a strong appetite from Asian markets like India and China. —Paolo Confino, Fortune Europe, 13 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

out- + obsolete strip to move fast

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

outstrip

verb

out·​strip -ˈstrip 

outstripped; outstripping

1

: to go faster or farther than

outstripped the other runners

2

a

: excel

outstripped all rivals

b

: exceed sense 1

demand outstrips supply