outstrip

verb out·strip \ ˌau̇t-ˈstrip \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of outstrip

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

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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 of outstrip from the Web

For instance, 70 percent of CMS white students rated proficient in eighth-grade math, far outstripping the nation (43 percent), North Carolina (47 percent) the urban-district average (49 percent) and Guilford County (48 percent).

— ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "CMS ranks No. 1 on national eighth-grade math exam. But there's still some bad news. | Charlotte Observer," 10 Apr. 2018
Strikingly, the market capitalization of the S&P 500 information-technology sector, at $5.5 trillion, outstrips the whole Euro Stoxx index, at $5.1 trillion.

— richard barley, WSJ, "Where Investors Find Refuge From Tech’s Storm," 3 Apr. 2018
By 2020, China’s box-office revenues and the size of its moviegoing audience are expected to officially outstrip North America’s.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Hollywood and the Limits of China's Box Office," 3 Apr. 2018
The first sales began Feb. 15, and demand quickly outstripped supply.

— sam wood, Philly.com, "Pa. medical marijuana program to balloon, add research," 22 Mar. 2018
According to government projections, by 2035 renewable sources will outstrip coal in electric power generation.

— paul feldman, kansascity, "Emission impossible? Few signs of coal revival despite Trump administration support | The Kansas City Star," 21 Mar. 2018
The fervor over footwear had stretched to Mexico, but demand was outstripping supply.

— dan greene, SI.com, "Flight of the Sole Man," 8 Mar. 2018
Cutting the budget outstrips all other fiscal options, including use of the Permanent Fund earnings or new tax revenues, by an overwhelming margin.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Chamber: Our polling shows budget, reducing spending are Alaskans’ top priorities," 22 Mar. 2018
This year is on a pace to outstrip that number, especially with the induction ceremonies set to make their biannual stop in Cleveland on Saturday, April 14, for the enshrinement of the Class of 2018.

— chuck yarborough, cleveland.com, "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame study reveals $199 million annual boost to economy (photos)," 20 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outstrip.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of outstrip

out- + obsolete strip to move fast

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

outstrip Synonyms

Phrases

go one better, run circles around (or run rings around);

Synonym Discussion of 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.