Standard Lemma guide

outpace

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪs
  • CMU ARPABET: AW1 T P EY2 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To go faster than; to exceed the pace of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The youngster outpaced his grandfather and ran on ahead.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

surpass in speed

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Malthus believed that population increase would outpace increases in the means of subsistence

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: surpass, outstrip, outmatch, outgo, exceed, outdo, surmount, outperform

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úd Proto-Germanic *ūt Proto-Germanic *ūt- Old English ūt- Middle English ut- English out- English pace English outpace From out- + pace.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: dejar atrás / rezagado a — Translations
  • Spanish: superar a — Translations