outstrips

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outstrips" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something exceeds or surpasses another in terms of quantity, quality, or performance. Example: "The new technology outstrips its predecessor in efficiency and speed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Piketty's argument is that, in an economy where the rate of return on capital outstrips the rate of growth, inherited wealth will always grow faster than earned wealth.

The Guardian - Books

It far outstrips the Red Sea and erases the need to travel all the way to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Guardian - Travel

The money raised in 2014 easily outstrips the previous £4.9bn record for the same period, in 2007, and the £2.9bn equivalent in 2006, which went on to be the all-time biggest year for flotations.

The Guardian - Business

Voter turnout amongst 18- to 24-year-olds far outstrips the 'grey vote' and politicians are rightly accused of ignoring the needs of young voters.

The Guardian

Piketty shows that because the return on capital outstrips growth, and is likely to continue to do so, inequality grows bigger and bigger.

The Guardian

It outstrips Washington's White House by a factor of 30.

The Guardian

This is a new record, and far outstrips spending in other countries.

The Economist

Annual generation of unwanted TVs, computers, mobile phones, kettles, refrigerators and the like, far outstrips the ability to collect and recycle it.

The Economist

They will get worse still if the "land sink", as researchers call the plants and soils, actually goes into reverse, adding to net emissions rather than reducing them as the respiration of microbes (which increases as temperatures rise) outstrips the photosynthesis of plants.

The Economist

If State were already active in the world of faith, would that really help parts of the world like Egypt where religious passions (along with many other passions) are playing out at a pace that far outstrips the stately rhythms of diplomacy?

The Economist

British English encourages lively scatological synonyms: foreigners told that someone is "taking a slash" or "on the bog" may be mystified.Sex outstrips even excretion as a source of euphemism.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outstrips" to clearly indicate that one thing surpasses another in a measurable or noticeable way, particularly in performance or quantity.

Common error

While "outstrips" is appropriate in formal writing, avoid using it excessively in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for more relaxed alternatives like "beats" or "exceeds" for a better fit.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "outstrips" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates that something exceeds or surpasses another thing. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe exceeding records, outpacing growth, or surpassing rivals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstrips" is a verb that indicates surpassing or exceeding something else, often in terms of quantity, quality, or performance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and business contexts. While versatile, be mindful of its slightly formal tone and consider more casual alternatives in informal settings. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate how "outstrips" effectively conveys the idea of surpassing a benchmark or exceeding expectations. Consider alternatives like "surpasses" or "exceeds" for nuanced differences in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeds

Focuses on surpassing a specific limit or quantity.

surpasses

Emphasizes going beyond in terms of quality or achievement.

outpaces

Focuses on exceeding in terms of speed or rate of progress.

outdoes

Highlights the act of performing better than someone else.

overshadows

Indicates that something is more prominent or significant, often diminishing the importance of something else.

eclipses

Suggests a temporary or permanent obscuring of something due to the superiority of another.

surmounts

Emphasizes overcoming a challenge or obstacle.

exceeds the grasp of

Implies being beyond the scope of understanding or capability.

trumps

Implies being the final or ultimate authority or advantage.

rises above

Suggests overcoming obstacles or limitations to achieve a higher level.

FAQs

How can I use "outstrips" in a sentence?

Use "outstrips" to indicate that something exceeds or surpasses something else, for example: "The company's profits "outstrips" all previous records".

What can I say instead of "outstrips"?

You can use alternatives like "surpasses", "exceeds", or "outpaces" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "outstrips" or "overtakes"?

"Overtakes" typically refers to physically passing something, while ""outstrips"" implies surpassing in a more general sense, such as performance or quantity.

What's the difference between "outstrips" and "exceeds"?

"Exceeds" focuses on surpassing a specific limit or quantity, while ""outstrips"" often refers to surpassing in overall performance or achievement. "Exceeds" is more specific, while "outstrips" can imply a broader sense of superiority.