be outstripped

USAGE SUMMARY

"be outstripped" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that someone or something has been surpassed or exceeded in performance or ability. Example: "In the race, she feared she would be outstripped by her competitors." Alternative expressions include "be surpassed" and "be exceeded."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This explains why Heidegger says that death is disclosed to Dasein as a possibility which is "not to be outstripped" (Being and Time 50: 294).

SEP

With crowds now around 500, matchday revenue may well be outstripped by costs.

The Guardian - Sport

It was a rare moment of satirical fantasy that has yet to be outstripped by reality.

The New Yorker

Soda sales are declining – in the US they soon look set to be outstripped by sales of bottled water.

The Guardian - Business

They argued that short-term tactical gains were likely to be outstripped by long-term strategic losses.

The New York Times

But those gains, he said, will be outstripped by $963 million in new costs, including $809 million more for labor, food and energy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

His flickering chamber of horrors was outstripped or refuted by personal experience.

The Guardian - Books

The appetite for walk-in wardrobes and wet-rooms is outstripped, however, by demand for the hajj.

The Guardian

But the state of the union itself could yet be in the hands of radicals whose eagerness to see the president fail is outstripped only by their zeal to make an ideological point, even if it forces America into default.

The New York Times

"The rising cost of an average UK funeral is very concerning; it's outstripped inflation considerably for many years –almost in line with house price rises, which as we know continue to rise rapidly as demand outstrips supply,"  Royal London funeral cost expert Simon Cox said.

Independent

That didn't work out though, after sales were poor and being outstripped by physical books in its stores (England!), so the company killed that deal.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be outstripped" to clearly indicate that something has been surpassed, either in quantity, quality, or significance. Ensure the context makes it clear what is being surpassed and by what.

Common error

Avoid using "be outstripped" when the active voice would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The company's profits were outstripped by its expenses", consider "The company's expenses outstripped its profits".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be outstripped" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject is exceeded or surpassed by something else. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's used to express that something has fallen behind or been exceeded by a greater amount or degree.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be outstripped" serves as a passive verb construction denoting that something has been exceeded or surpassed. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Although it appears with moderate frequency, it’s most common in news and media, science, and encyclopedia-type contexts. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly identifies what is being exceeded and by what, with an awareness that its passive nature can be less direct than active alternatives. The main purpose is to highlight the difference, and alternative expressions like "be surpassed" or "be exceeded" can be used depending on the nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be surpassed

Focuses on exceeding a limit or expectation.

be exceeded

Emphasizes going beyond a specific amount or degree.

be outperformed

Focuses on exceeding in performance.

be outdone

Highlights performing better than someone else.

be eclipsed

Suggests obscuring something by surpassing it in importance or fame.

be overshadowed

Indicates that something has become less prominent due to the success of something else.

be overtaken

Implies catching up and moving ahead of something previously leading.

be left behind

Focuses on the act of being surpassed in a race or competition.

be outranked

Specifically refers to exceeding in hierarchical status.

be surmounted

Describes overcoming an obstacle or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "be outstripped" in a sentence?

The phrase "be outstripped" is used to indicate that something has been surpassed or exceeded. For example, "The demand for the product may "be outstripped" by its supply."

What are some alternatives to "be outstripped"?

Some alternatives include "be surpassed", "be exceeded", or "be outdone". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to use the active or passive voice with "outstripped"?

The choice depends on what you want to emphasize. The active voice (e.g., "Expenses outstripped profits") focuses on the agent of the action, while the passive voice (e.g., "Profits were outstripped by expenses") emphasizes the recipient of the action.

What's the difference between "be outstripped" and "be surpassed"?

"Be outstripped" often implies a more significant or unexpected degree of surpassing than "be surpassed". While both indicate exceeding a limit, "be outstripped" suggests a more dramatic difference.