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

• exceed
• surpass
• eclipse
• better

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

At a high level, the growth in electricity demand and deactivation of power-generating facilities are outstripping the pace at which new electricity generation is being added to the electric grid, Hill said. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 21 June 2025

But Sanlorenzo’s commitment to the arts, which started with an installation at Art Basel, has outstripped its competitors. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 20 June 2025

Across more than a dozen surveys conducted between late January and mid-May 2025, unfavorable ratings consistently outstrip favorable ones—often by double-digit margins. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

Giving the series as much scale as humanly possible was important to Kirk, who noted that a director’s ambitions should always outstrip their resources. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

out- + obsolete strip to move fast

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outstrip

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• equip
• filmstrip
• flagship
• gunship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship

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