outwit

verb

out·​wit ˌau̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting

transitive verb

1
: to get the better of by superior cleverness : outsmart
2
archaic : to surpass in wisdom

Examples of outwit in a Sentence

The fox managed to outwit the hunter by hiding in a tree. They thought they had outwitted the new teacher.
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.
Forced back into combat, Billie Jean sets traps and executes precise strikes to outwit the attackers. Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024 For a concrete example of how AI has intensified the cat-and-mouse game between human and artificial BS, and the capacity of both to outwit and fool each other, consider recruitment. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Planes were first introduced into combat service during World War I, and the pioneering pilots who manned them became masters of the air, deploying daredevil maneuvers to outwit the enemy. Kinsey Gidick, Southern Living, 16 Oct. 2024 Trapped on the empty floors, the duo attempt to outwit their offenders using each others’ expertise – his experience with the criminal underbelly and her negotiation of the building’s quirks. Courtney Howard, Variety, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for outwit 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outwit was circa 1630

Dictionary Entries Near outwit

Cite this Entry

“Outwit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outwit. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

outwit

verb
out·​wit au̇t-ˈwit How to pronounce outwit (audio)
outwitted; outwitting
: to get the better of by cleverness

More from Merriam-Webster on outwit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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