outpace

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'outpace' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to mean 'to go faster than someone or something else so as to be ahead of them.' For example, "The new technology is out-pacing traditional methods and is quickly becoming the industry standard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her qualifications in economics and in people skills already outpace those of many of her male peers; change the name on her resume to "John Yellen" and that's blindingly obvious.

The Guardian - Opinion

A bull can weigh 1,000kg and easily outpace a human.

The Guardian - Sport

At the height of the Celtic Tiger prosperity in the first half of the last decade, houses prices, like Irish GDP, started to outpace the cost of home ownership in the most affluent parts of the UK.

The Guardian

There is no way that human birth rates could outpace this, so our very existence contradicts the existence of vampires.

The Guardian

If technology continues to outpace preservation tactics, future citizens could be locked out of accessing today's digital content – and plunged into a "digital dark age".

The Guardian

In other words, the average African economy will outpace its Asian counterpart.

The Economist

India still has a very high savings rate nearly a quarter of GDP but recently consumer spending has started to outpace economic growth.

The Economist

But Californians are increasingly rebelling against the largesse distributed by Mr Schwarzenegger's predecessor, Gray Davis, a Democrat, who wooed unions 11 years ago with juicy benefits.Those pension deals, moreover, illustrate California's more general problem: an asymmetry which guarantees that spending will always outpace revenues in the long term.

The Economist

Even so, in aggregate, the developing world will still outpace the rich world by a factor of four.China's massive size means that, though it is not yet a rival for the economic might of the United States, it does have the ability to influence the prospects of countries far beyond its borders.

The Economist

Job growth continues to outpace population growth, albeit ever so slightly.

The Economist

This has backfired: some bosses manipulated their companies' share prices to enrich themselves and most have seen their pay outpace company performance.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outpace", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being surpassed, whether it's a competitor, a rate of growth, or an expected outcome. For example: "The company's growth is outpacing its competitors."

Common error

Ensure correct verb conjugation when using "outpace". A common mistake is using the base form when the subject is singular (e.g., "The economy outpace inflation" instead of "The economy outpaces inflation").

Linguistic Context

"Outpace" functions as a transitive verb, indicating the act of exceeding something else in speed, growth, or progress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use. Examples show it describing economic growth, technological advancement, and competitive performance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outpace" is a verb used to describe the act of exceeding something in speed, growth, or performance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and business contexts. To use "outpace" effectively, ensure the subject-verb agreement is correct and the context clearly indicates what is being surpassed. Avoid using "to" after "outpace". Consider synonyms like "surpass", "exceed", or "overtake" for variety, and always ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceed

Focuses on surpassing a limit or expectation, rather than specifically speed or progress.

surpass

Implies going beyond a certain level or achievement.

overtake

Suggests catching up and moving ahead, often in a competitive context.

exceed the pace of

A more literal restatement, emphasizing surpassing a rate or speed.

leave behind

Highlights the act of moving so fast that others are unable to keep up.

better

A simple term suggesting to improve on, or be superior to.

outstrip

Indicates exceeding or surpassing, often in quantity or extent.

outdo

Implies surpassing someone in achievement or performance.

go faster than

Emphasizes velocity and speed.

move faster than

Similar to "go faster than" but slightly more descriptive.

FAQs

How can I use "outpace" in a sentence?

You can use "outpace" to describe something exceeding another thing in speed or growth. For instance, "The new technology will "outpace traditional methods"."

What are some synonyms for "outpace"?

Alternatives for "outpace" include "surpass", "exceed", and "overtake". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "outpace to"?

No, "outpace" is a transitive verb and doesn't require "to". You would directly state what is being outpaced: "The company's profits outpaced expectations", not "outpace to expectations."

What's the difference between "outpace" and "outperform"?

"Outpace" typically refers to exceeding in speed or rate, while "outperform" generally means exceeding in overall performance or results. For example, one might say a runner outpaced others in a race, but a company outperformed its rivals in sales.