as in surpassing
to be greater, better, or stronger than
before he had reached his teens, the child prodigy had outstripped his music teacher's abilities
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Recent Examples of outstripping
As of December 2025, streaming accounted for nearly half of all TV viewing, outstripping broadcast and cable combined, according to a Nielsen survey.
—
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, Nvidia's finance chief Colette Kress predicted that the shortage of gaming chips would last until the end of 2026 in an interview with Reuters, amid demand from the AI industry outstripping demand from console sales.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Share appreciation is a sign that demand is outstripping supply at the current price level.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Primerica’s research reports that nearly seven out of 10 households (69%) say the costs of living are outstripping their income.
—Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
In 2025, a staggering 623,000 people claimed to be home health and personal assistants, making it by far the biggest occupation in the state, far outstripping retail salespersons, nurses or cashiers and waitresses.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
The nonpartisan office attributed that to state spending outstripping revenue.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The shortage market is outstripping sustainable energy’s capacity.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 18 Dec. 2025
Another area in which China’s high-end capabilities are already outstripping those of the United States is in airborne long-range early warning and command system (AWACS) aircraft.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, Nvidia's finance chief Colette Kress predicted that the shortage of gaming chips would last until the end of 2026 in an interview with Reuters, amid demand from the AI industry outstripping demand from console sales.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 8 Mar. 2026
Share appreciation is a sign that demand is outstripping supply at the current price level.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
Primerica’s research reports that nearly seven out of 10 households (69%) say the costs of living are outstripping their income.
—Mark Davis, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
In 2025, a staggering 623,000 people claimed to be home health and personal assistants, making it by far the biggest occupation in the state, far outstripping retail salespersons, nurses or cashiers and waitresses.
—Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
The nonpartisan office attributed that to state spending outstripping revenue.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The shortage market is outstripping sustainable energy’s capacity.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 18 Dec. 2025
Another area in which China’s high-end capabilities are already outstripping those of the United States is in airborne long-range early warning and command system (AWACS) aircraft.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstripping
Verb
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Microsoft celebrated the app surpassing 10 million downloads in 2024.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
-
This charming town on Lake Michigan has emerged as a surprising luxury hotspot, with 53 percent of listings now surpassing $1 million.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair was arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft exceeding $20,000.—
Jermont Terry,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Treatment often requires hospitalization; when kidney failure is severe, dialysis is needed, with bills often exceeding $10,000.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On their record-breaking flyby, the astronauts reached a maximum 252,756 miles from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, eclipsing Apollo 13‘s distance record.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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When our own planet was eclipsing the sun, at least from the Artemis capsule’s point of view, the astronauts saw the agave-green milky glow of the solar atmosphere and its dust, visible around the moon.—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Haotong Li of China shot 69 and was four behind, still mystified by topping a fairway metal that raced into the pond in front of the 15th green.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
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Gas prices have surged more than 30% since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign, with the national average now topping $4 per gallon, according to AAA.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outstripping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstripping. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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