outplay

verb

out·​play ˌau̇t-ˈplā 

outplayed; outplaying; outplays

transitive verb

: to play better than

especially : to outdo in playing a game

The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter, but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win …

—The Times Union (Albany, New York)

Examples of outplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Edwards essentially stole a contest in which the Wolves were largely outplayed with some sensational shot-making at the start of the fourth quarter to get the Wolves back into the game, then with prolific playmaking at the end to win it. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025

Inter Miami was outplayed in a 2-0 defeat at Vancouver last Thursday putting it in a position where the best case scenario to advance is scoring three goals and not allowing any against a side that leads the MLS in scoring. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025

The Knicks were thoroughly outplayed through the first three quarters of Game 1 before blowing the Pistons out of the water via a 21-0 fourth-quarter run. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025

Italy were being outplayed at the time, trailing by a goal on the night following a Kimmich penalty and 3-1 on aggregate. —Stuart James, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outplay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

outplay

verb

out·​play

(ˈ)au̇t-ˈplā

: to play better than