outnumber

verb

out·​num·​ber ˌau̇t-ˈnəm-bər How to pronounce outnumber (audio)
outnumbered; outnumbering; outnumbers

transitive verb

: to exceed in number

Examples of outnumber in a Sentence

With 20 girls and 10 boys in the class, girls outnumber boys by 2 to 1.
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.
Next vote comes Monday The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, where Republicans outnumber Democrats 9-3, will take up its 49-page anti-initiative bill at a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday (SB 7016). Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025 Brighton Beach, a Slavic enclave in Brooklyn where Ukrainians outnumber Russians two to one, voted overwhelmingly for President Trump. Mark Bonamo, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2025 Like Zhou, Li, and Wu, coach Hao comes from a poorer background, an economic status that can negatively impact a man’s odds of attracting a mate in contemporary China where men greatly outnumber women. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025 The Demographic Imperative By 2045, the United States is projected to become a majority-minority nation, with people of color outnumbering white individuals. Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outnumber

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outnumber was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outnumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outnumber. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

outnumber

verb
out·​num·​ber (ˈ)au̇t-ˈnəm-bər How to pronounce outnumber (audio)
: to be more than in number
girls outnumber boys in the class

More from Merriam-Webster on outnumber

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!