outstrip

verb

out·​strip ˌau̇t-ˈstrip How to pronounce outstrip (audio)
outstripped; outstripping; outstrips

transitive verb

1
: to go faster or farther than
2
: to get ahead of
has civilization outstripped the ability of its users to use it?Margaret Mead
Choose the Right Synonym for outstrip

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree.

exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of outstrip in a Sentence

The new hotel outstrips all other hotels in the area in size and luxury. The fullback outstripped the defenders and scored a touchdown.
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.
At a high level, the growth in electricity demand and deactivation of power-generating facilities are outstripping the pace at which new electricity generation is being added to the electric grid, Hill said. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 21 June 2025 But Sanlorenzo’s commitment to the arts, which started with an installation at Art Basel, has outstripped its competitors. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 20 June 2025 Across more than a dozen surveys conducted between late January and mid-May 2025, unfavorable ratings consistently outstrip favorable ones—often by double-digit margins. Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025 Giving the series as much scale as humanly possible was important to Kirk, who noted that a director’s ambitions should always outstrip their resources. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for outstrip

Word History

Etymology

out- + obsolete strip to move fast

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outstrip was in 1567

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outstrip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outstrip. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

outstrip

verb
out·​strip -ˈstrip How to pronounce outstrip (audio)
outstripped; outstripping
1
: to go faster or farther than
outstripped the other runners
2
a
: excel
outstripped all rivals
b
: exceed sense 1
demand outstrips supply

More from Merriam-Webster on outstrip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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