outwit

verb

out·​wit ˌau̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of by superior cleverness : outsmart
2
archaic : to surpass in wisdom

Examples of outwit in a Sentence

The fox managed to outwit the hunter by hiding in a tree. They thought they had outwitted the new teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To win, the contestants must outwit their opponents and identify the suspect, location and murder weapon of the crime. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 Though Penn State had a key injury with linebacker Tony Rojas sidelined, Knowles was also outwitted by Neuheisel, who only took over the role for the Bruins earlier this week. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025 Maigret must outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals, while dealing with his own troubled past. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 But like any virus, RSV has the ability to mutate, so at least one question remained: Could the virus eventually outwit nirsevimab? Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outwit

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outwit was circa 1630

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outwit. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

outwit

verb
out·​wit au̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting
: to get the better of by cleverness

More from Merriam-Webster on outwit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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