outperform
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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outperformsimple
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outperformssimple
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have outperformedperfect
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has outperformedperfect
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am outperformingprogressive
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are outperformingprogressive
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is outperformingprogressive
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have been outperformingperfect progressive
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has been outperformingperfect progressive
Past
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outperformedsimple
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had outperformedperfect
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was outperformingprogressive
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were outperformingprogressive
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had been outperformingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of outperform
Explanation
To outperform is to accomplish something in a better or more impressive way that someone else. In a marathon, the younger runners usually outperform the very oldest ones. Whenever you surpass or beat the record of another person, you can say you outperform them. Experienced workers frequently outperform newer employees, and pundits like to worry aloud about students in other countries who outperform American kids on standardized tests. You can also say that an investment that makes more money outperforms a less profitable one.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
William Blair reiterated an Outperform rating on Broadcom shares, which have jumped 44% over the last 12 months.
From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026
Macquarie recently upgraded CoreWeave to Outperform with a $125 price target, as the company prepares to join the Nasdaq 100.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
Just last week, Macquarie upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral with a $125 price target, up from $90.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
Leerink Partners raised itsTango Therapeutics price target to $69 from $55 and kept its Outperform rating on the shares.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Leerink Partners raised itsTango Therapeutics price target to $69 from $55 and kept its Outperform rating on the shares.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
