drive to outdo

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drive to outdo" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong motivation or desire to surpass others in performance or achievement. Example: "Her drive to outdo her competitors pushed her to work longer hours and innovate her product line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That drive to outdo and maintain their claim to fame took a tragic turn on Sunday when Sailendra Nath Roy, celebrated for pulling a "toy train" with his ponytail, died while performing another rope stunt over the turbulent Teesta River in West Bengal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"The Big Year" follows three men who are drawn into a vortex of competition, driven to outdo one another in a ruthless yearlong quest for supremacy in a difficult, all-consuming enterprise.

The New York Times

Some attribute Mr Piëch's obsessive drive to a determination to outdo his grandfather, if not technically, then commercially.Porsche's daughter Louise, Mr Piëch's mother, inherited half the Porsche fortune and ran Porsche Holding, the Austrian company that today is the biggest distributor of VW and Porsche cars in Europe.

The Economist

Or it could be a political campaign, in which various candidates try to outdo each other.

The New Yorker

Organizations such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Accion International, The Acumen Fund (now Acumen) and The Echoing Green spurred by the entrepreneurial drive of a new generation, have combined business model and philanthropy to outdo for-profit investments with donations.

Huffington Post

That was the first time I'd ever driven on that strip of highway and I think Keith was trying to outdo Jan.

The Guardian - Music

He wanted to outdo himself, outdo the Alien Queen".

The New Yorker

Son tried to outdo father.

The New York Times - Sports

Sons striving to outdo fathers.

The New York Times

Then try to outdo it".

The New York Times - Magazine

Life began to outdo art.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drive to outdo" when you want to emphasize a competitive spirit or a strong desire to surpass others. It's appropriate in contexts where ambition and rivalry are key themes.

Common error

Avoid using "drive to outdo" in situations where collaboration or self-improvement are the primary focus. In such cases, phrases like "desire to excel" or "motivation to improve" may be more fitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drive to outdo" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically acting as a noun or adjective. It describes a motivation or impetus behind an action, focusing on the competitive aspect of surpassing others.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drive to outdo" is a grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to convey a strong desire for surpassing others. Ludwig AI analysis indicates the expression is generally neutral, and commonly found in News & Media. Related phrases include "urge to surpass" and "desire to excel", which offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. The phrase is appropriate in competitive contexts where ambition is a driving force, but care should be taken to avoid overusing it in collaborative or self-improvement scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

urge to surpass

Replaces "drive" with "urge", softening the intensity of the motivation.

desire to excel

Substitutes "outdo" with "excel", focusing on personal improvement rather than direct competition.

ambition to exceed

Uses "ambition" instead of "drive" and "exceed" for "outdo", implying a higher level of aspiration.

aspiration to surpass

Replaces both "drive" and "outdo" with more formal synonyms, resulting in more formal style.

motivation to overcome

Shifts the focus to overcoming challenges rather than directly outperforming others.

determination to beat

Emphasizes the competitive aspect using "beat", suggesting a more direct rivalry.

impulse to dominate

Conveys a stronger sense of control and power, rather than just surpassing.

need to triumph

Focuses on achieving victory, with a more decisive and conclusive connotation.

yearning to outshine

Implies a desire to be more impressive or noticeable than others.

striving to better

Shifts the focus to self-improvement and exceeding personal best, more generic term.

FAQs

How can I use "drive to outdo" in a sentence?

You can use "drive to outdo" to describe someone's strong motivation to surpass others, such as "Her "drive to outdo" her competitors fueled her relentless pursuit of innovation."

What are some alternatives to "drive to outdo"?

Alternatives include "urge to surpass", "desire to excel", or "ambition to exceed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "drive to outdo" and "desire to excel"?

"Drive to outdo" emphasizes a competitive aspect, focusing on surpassing others. "Desire to excel", on the other hand, centers on personal improvement and achieving a high standard of performance, without necessarily competing against others.

Is it grammatically correct to say "driven to outdo"?

Yes, "driven to outdo" is grammatically correct. It is the past participle form and can be used to describe someone who is motivated by a strong desire to surpass others. For example: "He was "driven to outdo" his rivals."