outstripped

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "outstripped" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to mean to surpass or to go beyond. For example, "The company's success outstripped all expectations".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At the same time, the cost of renting and the overall cost of living has vastly outstripped the annual rise in student loan allowance.

The Guardian

The cities continue to mushroom at a pace outstripped nowhere else on Earth.

The Guardian

In that period, Ukip got just £35,000, which outstripped the £20,000 given to the Liberal Democrats.

The Guardian

For the first time, cash from the three top Labour donors, all multimillionaires, outstripped the trade union contribution to the party's general election campaign.

The Guardian

In his summary of his trip, he concludes: Established structures and their respective functions were outstripped by another kind of operating and making use of the city.

The Guardian - Tech

In at least one case, the value of the tax credits outstripped the value of the business that received them.

The Guardian

With only four countries slipping backwards, the 19-member eurozone's recovery outstripped the 0.3% growth rate recorded by the UK and 0.2% by the US in the same period.

The Guardian - Business

Fareedoon Ahmed, a trainee psychiatrist from Essex, said the illness had long since outstripped the resources available – in the UK at least.

The Guardian

But campaign groups and trade unions have pointed out that the annual rises in fares have far outstripped the rises in wages and that Britons pay some of the highest rail fares in Europe.

The Guardian

That, they say, could help to cut the number of British teenagers who become pregnant: at 40 per thousand girls under 18 each year, Britain's rate is outstripped in the developed world only by America's.Not everyone, though, is keen on teaching near-babies how babies are made.

The Economist

And they can expect no consolation prize in terms of housing-market gains, since house-price growth will slow to zero both nationally and in the south by this time next year, according to Fionnuala Earley, an economist at the Nationwide Building Society.The ripple effectLondon may have outstripped the rest of the country in the past decade but this has not been at the latter's expense.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outstripped", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being surpassed and by what margin. It emphasizes a significant difference or advancement.

Common error

Avoid using "outstripped" in passive constructions where the agent of surpassing is unclear. Ensure it's evident who or what has exceeded something else.

Linguistic Context

Outstripped primarily functions as a verb, indicating the past tense of 'outstrip'. It signifies that something has exceeded or surpassed something else in terms of quantity, quality, or degree. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstripped" is a versatile verb form used to express the idea of exceeding or surpassing something else, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically sound and appears frequently in formal contexts, particularly in news and business writing. When using "outstripped", ensure clarity in specifying what is being surpassed and avoid passive constructions that obscure the agent of the action. For alternative phrasing, consider synonyms like "exceeded" or "surpassed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpassed

A direct synonym, indicating going beyond or exceeding in degree or amount.

exceeded

Implies surpassing a limit or expectation, similar to "outstripped" but without the connotation of leaving behind.

outpaced

Focuses on moving faster or progressing more quickly than something else.

outdid

Focuses on performing better than someone or something else.

went beyond

A more literal way of saying that something exceeded expectations or limits.

bettered

Indicates an improvement upon a previous state or achievement.

moved past

Suggests progress beyond a previous achievement or situation.

eclipsed

Suggests overshadowing or diminishing the importance of something else.

left behind

Highlights the act of surpassing to the point of creating distance.

transcended

Implies rising above or going beyond limitations.

FAQs

How can I use "outstripped" in a sentence?

Use "outstripped" to indicate that something has exceeded or surpassed something else, like in the sentence: "The company's profits "outstripped" all expectations this year".

What are some alternatives to saying "outstripped"?

You can use alternatives like "exceeded", "surpassed", or "outdid" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "outstripped" in formal writing?

Yes, "outstripped" is suitable for formal writing. It is frequently found in news articles and business reports.

What's the difference between "outstripped" and "surpassed"?

While both mean to exceed, "outstripped" often implies a more significant or noticeable difference than "surpassed". "Outstripped" suggests leaving something behind.