far outnumber

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far outnumber" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that one thing is much greater in number than another. For example, "The number of stars in the sky far outnumbers the grains of sand in the desert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hippos far outnumber ships.

The Economist

The losers far outnumber the winners.

The New York Times

But the similarities far outnumber the differences.

The New York Times

Still, the critiques far outnumber the defenses.

The New York Times

The result is that men far outnumber women.

The Economist

Its speakers far outnumber any other linguistic group.

The Economist

Non-Hispanic whites also far outnumber blacks receiving SNAP benefits.

The New York Times

Multiparty systems in Africa now far outnumber single-party ones.

The Economist

In both cases, the disenfranchised far outnumber the privileged.

The New Yorker

Muslims far outnumber Christians in Nazareth's large Arab-Israeli population.

The New York Times

Worldwide, Mickey Mouse T-shirts far outnumber military bases.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "far outnumber", ensure the context provides a clear comparison between the two quantities being discussed.

Common error

Avoid using "far outnumber" when the difference is not substantial. Reserve this phrase for situations where the numerical disparity is significant and noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far outnumber" functions as a verb phrase that typically describes a relationship between two countable nouns or noun phrases. It indicates that one entity has a significantly larger quantity than the other. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far outnumber" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to indicate that one group or quantity significantly exceeds another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a straightforward and effective way to convey scale and disproportion. It's commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts, highlighting its versatility. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the two quantities being compared and that the disparity is indeed substantial. For alternative expressions, consider options like "greatly exceed" or "vastly surpass" to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outnumber by a large margin

Explicitly quantifies the difference, making it clear that the outnumbering is substantial.

far exceed

A more concise substitute for "far outnumber", maintaining a similar level of emphasis.

substantially exceed

A more formal way of saying that one thing is much greater than another.

greatly surpass

Similar to "far exceed", highlighting a significant difference without focusing solely on numbers.

greatly exceed in number

Replaces "far outnumber" with a more formal and descriptive phrase, emphasizing the magnitude of the difference.

vastly surpass in quantity

Uses "vastly surpass" to highlight a significant difference in amount, adding a sense of scale.

significantly outstrip

Emphasizes that one thing not only exceeds but also overtakes another, implying growth or progress.

massively outweigh

Implies a considerable difference in importance or impact, not just number.

dwarf in comparison

Emphasizes how small one thing is relative to the other, creating a sense of disproportion.

tower over

Suggests that something is much more significant or impactful.

FAQs

How can I use "far outnumber" in a sentence?

You can use "far outnumber" to indicate that one group or quantity is much larger than another. For example, "In rural areas, chickens "far outnumber" people".

What can I say instead of "far outnumber"?

You can use alternatives like "greatly exceed", "vastly surpass", or "outnumber by a large margin" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "far outnumber" or "greatly outnumber"?

Both ""far outnumber"" and "greatly outnumber" are correct. "Far outnumber" emphasizes a more significant numerical difference, while "greatly outnumber" can be used for a slightly less dramatic distinction.

What's the difference between "far outnumber" and "exceed"?

"Far outnumber" specifically refers to numerical dominance, while "exceed" can refer to surpassing a limit or expectation. For example, "The demand exceeded our expectations" does not imply a numerical comparison.