Standard Lemma guide

outperform

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: /ˌaʊt.pɚˈfɔɹm/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AW1 T P ER0 F AO2 R M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To perform better than something or someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

be or do something to a greater degree

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her performance surpasses that of any other student I know
  • She outdoes all other athletes
  • This exceeds all my expectations
  • This car outperforms all others in its class

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: surpass, outstrip, outmatch, outgo, exceed, outdo, surmount

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

Narrower terms: outwit, overreach, outsmart, outfox, beat, circumvent, outgrow, outshout, outcry, outroar, outsail, outdraw, outsell, outpace, better, break, outshine, outrange, outweigh, outbrave, out-herod, shame, outmarch, outwear

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Spanish: superar — Translations
  • Spanish: sobrepasar — Translations
  • Spanish: llevar en la balastra — Translations