outdo

USAGE SUMMARY

"outdo" is a correct and usable English word.
It can be used as a verb, meaning to exceed or surpass someone or something, or do something better than someone else. For example, you could say "The new car outdid its predecessors in both speed and fuel efficiency".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There's never been any competition in the whole 13 years; there's never been a sense that anyone is trying to outdo anyone else, or replace us; there's always been this genuine loyalty to the brand and to what they're building and the community they're part of.

The Guardian

The demon has invaded you... "It sometimes happens that people completely unsuited for word-play will improvise an endless string of puns and wholly improbable idea relationships fit to outdo the ablest masters of this preposterous craft.

The Guardian - Books

The format isn't entirely new – an episode of Modern Family did exactly the same thing a couple of months ago – but it is a canny set of formal constrictions to impose upon oneself as a film-maker, and writer Nelson Greaves and director Levan Gabriadze outdo themselves with it for a goodly portion of the movie.

The Guardian - Film

The Japanese economy is probably already in recession, having managed to outdo even the most pessimistic forecasts.

The Economist

Mr Wynn, meanwhile, bought the legendary Desert Inn casino, where he is living with his art while he plans his next move.Across the strip at the Venetian, a rival casino billionaire, Sheldon Adelson, respects Mr Wynn's vision so much that he is trying to outdo it, by importing art from the Guggenheim and Hermitage museums.

The Economist

No one can outdo Chinese companies when it comes to adapting advanced technologies to the purses and preferences of 1.3 billion Chinese consumers.

The Economist

The author also has a penchant for producing endless bits of academic research out of his magician's hat as if trying to outdo Malcolm Gladwell.

The Economist

After a boozy dinner he drapes himself over the developer's shoulder and extracts a promise from him to add more storeys to his tower to outdo the one in the neighbouring city.The one-upmanship exemplified by Mr Guo has generated great economic dynamism, but also great inefficiency.

The Economist

The passion for hops in American craft beers has taken on the characteristics of an arms race, as brewers try to outdo each other in hoppiness.If no brewer in America can pass up the opportunity to make an IPA, the same is true elsewhere.

The Economist

Economists fret that Chinese investment is marred by wasteful prestige projects, orchestrated by local bigwigs seeking to outdo one another.

The Economist

That these two different "models" meet peacefully at the 49th parallel and strive to outdo each other can be good for both of them.In this section Canada's wintry election Stop the killing, again The sound of distant howling Hindrance or help?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outdo" when you want to emphasize surpassing someone or something else in a competitive or comparative context. It implies a deliberate effort to exceed expectations or performance.

Common error

Avoid using "outdo" when simply describing an action without a clear comparison. For instance, instead of saying "The artist outdid with their brushstrokes", say "The artist excelled with their brushstrokes".

Linguistic Context

The verb "outdo" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It indicates the act of surpassing or exceeding someone or something in performance or achievement. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in comparative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outdo" is a versatile verb used to express surpassing or exceeding a competitor or standard. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. To use it effectively, focus on comparative situations and consider synonyms like "surpass" or "exceed" for varied expression. Remember, while "outdo" is generally neutral, formal contexts might benefit from more sophisticated alternatives. By avoiding misuse in non-comparative sentences and understanding its communicative purpose, you can confidently incorporate "outdo" into your writing to convey achievements and superiority effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass

Implies exceeding in degree or excellence.

exceed

Focuses on going beyond a limit or expectation.

outperform

Specifically refers to doing better in a performance-based context.

excel

Suggests a high level of skill or quality.

beat

A more direct and informal way of saying "outdo".

better

A simple and versatile way of saying to improve upon or "outdo".

outstrip

Implies surpassing in speed or progress.

transcend

Suggests rising above or going beyond limitations.

eclipse

Means to surpass in importance or reputation; to overshadow.

top

Informal way of saying to exceed or surpass something.

FAQs

How to use "outdo" in a sentence?

You can use "outdo" to describe surpassing someone in performance, like "The company aimed to "outdo its competitors" in sales" or "The athlete wanted to "outdo their previous record"".

What can I say instead of "outdo"?

Alternatives to "outdo" include "surpass", "exceed", or "outperform", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "outdo" formal or informal?

"Outdo" is generally considered a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider alternatives like "surpass" or "exceed".

What's the difference between "outdo" and "compete with"?

"Outdo" implies successfully surpassing someone or something, while "compete with" simply means to strive against others, without necessarily achieving superiority. You can "compete with" someone without "outdoing" them.