outsmart

verb

out·​smart ˌau̇t-ˈsmärt How to pronounce outsmart (audio)
outsmarted; outsmarting; outsmarts

transitive verb

: to get the better of
especially : outwit

Examples of outsmart in a Sentence

The government must gather large amounts of information in order to outsmart its enemies. an inexpensive security system that would likely be outsmarted by anyone with a serious interest in circumventing it
Recent Examples on the Web The approach should work when the show’s producers scramble to figure out how this cornpone contestant out Lebanon, Ohio, has outsmarted them. Stephen Saito, Variety, 6 Sep. 2024 So, Enola decides to break the mold and outsmart her brothers by finding her mother herself. Madeline Cisneros, EW.com, 8 Aug. 2024 President Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth, who after fleeing Washington, would outsmart his pursuers throughout Southern Maryland until being shot in a Virginia tobacco barn. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 23 July 2024 Fallon also accused the Secret Service of being outsmarted by Crooks, who authorities say used his father’s rifle in the assault. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for outsmart 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outsmart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outsmart was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near outsmart

Cite this Entry

“Outsmart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outsmart. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

outsmart

verb
out·​smart (ˈ)au̇t-ˈsmärt How to pronounce outsmart (audio)
: outwit

More from Merriam-Webster on outsmart

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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