outstrip

verb

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

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

Synonyms of outstrip

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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.
Much of this debt has funded investment that has generated progressively lower—even negative—economic returns, including excess residential real estate, underutilized infrastructure, and manufacturing capacity that far outstrips demand. — Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026 Needless to say, demand will outstrip supply by more than a little, but full information about the ticketing process can be found at this page. — Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 The ecommerce upstart, which quickly outstripped legacy rivals like H&M and Zara in online apparel sales during the pandemic, saw its New York, then London, listing aspirations unravel amid mounting regulatory and political scrutiny. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026 The decommissioning operations are slated to continue through 2051, and Fukushima’s annual cumulative radiation levels still far outstrip any other Japanese plant. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for outstrip

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Browse Nearby Words

outstrike
outstrip
outstroke
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Cite this Entry

“Outstrip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outstrip. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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