outweigh

verb

out·​weigh ˌau̇t-ˈwā How to pronounce outweigh (audio)
outweighed; outweighing; outweighs

transitive verb

: to exceed in weight, value, or importance
the advantages outweigh the disadvantages

Examples of outweigh in a Sentence

She outweighs her sister by 10 pounds. This issue outweighs all others in importance.
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.
Manufactured objects — plastic bottles, ballpoint pens, concrete buildings, teabags, wind turbines, cell phones, T-shirts, aluminum cans — outweigh the living world and will form distinctive, if sometimes hard to interpret, clues to our existence. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025 Organizations should not immediately conclude that the risks outweigh the rewards. Una Verhoeven, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 While some claim tariffs affect healthcare costs, the long-term benefits outweigh short-term adjustments. Eric Axel, Boston Herald, 22 Mar. 2025 In a new study, Keith and his colleagues argue that the health risks of sulfate particulates in the atmosphere are heavily outweighed by the potential impacts of not deploying geoengineering technologies. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outweigh

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outweigh was in 1534

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outweigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outweigh. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

outweigh

verb
out·​weigh -ˈwā How to pronounce outweigh (audio)
: to be greater than in weight, value, or importance
the benefits outweigh the disadvantages
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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