outshine

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outshine" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone or something that surpasses others in brightness, talent, or quality. Example: "Her performance in the play was so captivating that it seemed to outshine all the other actors on stage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tracy Morgan, the talented 30 Rock comedian whose unpredictability once threatened to outshine his accomplishments, took questions on Reddit on Thursday as part of a tour to rehabilitate his image ahead of a new comedy special and standup tour.

The Guardian - Tech

Martin said he did not fear being eclipsed as the main opposition party by Sinn Fein, some of whose Dáil deputies outshine Fianna Fáil ones in debates inside the Irish parliament.

The Guardian

Taking to the stage to introduce his new film, The Descendants, at the mayor's gala, the maker of Sideways and Election sported a bright blue suit — how else should you dress to outshine George Clooney?

The Guardian - Film

There has even been speculation that her visit may outshine Barack Obama's next week.

The Guardian

Thirty years after he first took home the coveted prize, the 67-year-old singer-songwriter became the oldest recipient of a Brit award on a night that saw the old guard outshine music's young starlets.

The Guardian - Music

For money scandals, no one can outshine the LDP.

The Economist

And for as long as Mr Gandhi does not rise, it is hard for other relative youngsters to be promoted without appearing to outshine him.

The Economist

Powerful businessmen who profited under Mr Mubarak also bear grudges, relentlessly reflected in the privately owned media that far outshine the Islamists' dowdy efforts at propaganda.The increasingly nasty war of words between Egypt's camps has turned politics into what Khalil Anani, an analyst, describes as a zero-sum game.

The Economist

Now Lionel Jospin is trying to outshine them in France.

The Economist

He seems to outshine Congress's diffident young scion, Rahul Gandhi, for instance.But if the BJP were to promote him as its leading candidate it would risk making the next election a referendum on Mr Modi, potentially uniting opposition to him and distracting attention from the assorted woes of Congress.Yet it seems unlikely that this court ruling will have much impact more than a year from now.

The Economist

Alberta's students regularly outshine those from other Canadian provinces: in 2004 national tests, Alberta's 13- and 16-year-olds ranked first in mathematics and science, and third in writing.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outshine" when you want to emphasize that something or someone is noticeably superior or more impressive than others in a specific quality or area. For example, "Her talent for singing completely outshone her peers during the competition."

Common error

Avoid using "outshine" when simply describing something that is good or effective without direct comparison to something else. For example, instead of saying "The new software outshines," specify what it outshines: "The new software outshines the previous version in terms of speed and user interface."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outshine" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object to complete its meaning, indicating what is being surpassed or exceeded. Ludwig examples show it correctly used in sentences like, "The old guard outshine music's young starlets."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outshine" is a versatile transitive verb used to convey surpassing something in quality or prominence. With a neutral register, it finds frequent use across news, encyclopedias, and other forms of media. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in various writing styles. Its effectiveness lies in emphasizing notable superiority or impressiveness. For alternatives, consider "surpass", "exceed", or "eclipse", but be sure to consider subtle contextual differences. To avoid errors, use "outshine" in contexts where an explicit comparison is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass

Indicates exceeding or going beyond a limit or expectation, differing from "outshine" which specifically implies exceeding in brightness or talent.

outdo

Implies doing better than someone else, focusing on the act of performing better rather than the quality of surpassing.

exceed

Similar to surpass, but often used in more quantifiable contexts, whereas "outshine" is more about qualitative superiority.

excel

Focuses on being exceptionally good at something, whereas "outshine" implies surpassing others.

eclipse

Suggests obscuring or diminishing the importance or prominence of something, similar to "outshine" in the sense of surpassing, but with an added connotation of overshadowing.

outstrip

Means to exceed or surpass, often in a race or competition, similar to "outshine" but with a stronger competitive connotation.

overshadow

Suggests dominating or making something else seem less important, akin to "outshine" in the context of superiority.

tower above

Implies being significantly superior or more prominent, sharing the sense of exceeding others but with a stronger visual metaphor.

transcend

Means to rise above or go beyond limits, differing from "outshine" which focuses on surpassing others in a specific area.

surmount

Indicates overcoming a difficulty or obstacle, which is different from the comparative aspect of "outshine".

FAQs

How can I use "outshine" in a sentence?

You can use "outshine" to describe something that excels or surpasses something else in a specific quality. For example, "The new product's features completely "outshine" its competitors."

What can I say instead of "outshine"?

You can use alternatives like "surpass", "exceed", or "eclipse" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say 'outshined' or 'outshone'?

Both 'outshined' and 'outshone' are valid past tense and past participle forms of "outshine", but 'outshone' is more commonly used and generally preferred in formal writing.

What is the difference between "outshine" and "outperform"?

"Outshine" implies a more radiant or noticeable superiority, often in terms of talent or appearance, while "outperform" refers specifically to achieving better results or performance in a measurable way. For example, a singer might ""outshine"" her peers, while a company might "outperform" its competitors in sales.