outbox

¹ American  

[out-boks] / ˈaʊtˌbɒks /

Or out-box

noun

outboxes plural

1. a boxlike tray, basket, or the like, as on a desk, for holding outgoing mail, messages, or work.

---

outbox ² American  

[out-boks] / ˌaʊtˈbɒks /

verb (used with object)

outboxes, present (3rd person singular) outboxed, past participle, past outboxing present participle

1. to surpass in boxing.

   I've seen the champ outbox better fighters than this one.

---

outbox British  

/ ˈaʊtˌbɒks /

noun

1. (on a computer) a folder in a mailbox in which outgoing messages are stored and displayed

2. a US and Canadian name for out-tray

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• outboxes
  plural

Participles

• outboxing
  present
• outboxed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• outbox
  simple
• outboxes
  simple
• have outboxed
  perfect
• has outboxed
  perfect
• am outboxing
  progressive
• are outboxing
  progressive
• is outboxing
  progressive
• have been outboxing
  perfect progressive
• has been outboxing
  perfect progressive

Past

• outboxed
  simple
• had outboxed
  perfect
• was outboxing
  progressive
• were outboxing
  progressive
• had been outboxing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will outbox
  simple
• will have outboxed
  perfect
• will be outboxing
  progressive
• will have been outboxing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of outbox¹

First recorded in 1970–75; out- + box ¹

Origin of outbox²

First recorded in 1860–65; out- + box ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

outbox outboxed outboxing

Usyk will be able to outbox and outmanoeuvre him.”

From BBC ● May 16, 2024

You will not outbox Usyk, and I think Dubois is willing to take risks.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2023

However, Joshua has been criticised for being too gun-shy in his approach since losing to Ruiz, opting to outbox rather than bulldoze his opponents.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2023

Try to score on the power play with all the futility of a sea otter attempting to outbox a kangaroo.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 15, 2022

He pushed the barn door open and walked over to a box on the desk in there marked outbox.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones

American Garcia, 26, was dropped in the second round by a left hook and outboxed in large parts of the welterweight bout.

From BBC ● May 3, 2025

As Shields, an unbeaten 26-year-old American who outboxed and outclassed Kozin over 10 rounds, was analyzing the fight with an interviewer at ringside, the British boxer Savannah Marshall and her promoter joined the conversation.

From New York Times ● Feb. 6, 2022

Although Fury largely outboxed his powerful American challenger, Wilder knocked down Fury twice to split the scorecards.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 8, 2021

After two tuneup bouts in the summer of 2018, Fury faced Wilder, the WBC champion, that December and mostly outboxed the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, landing 84 punches to his 71.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 24, 2020

Then they made room for wrestling—grinding bouts that Seareach won, pinning the strongest men; then the broadjump; first place went to Seabelt; Sparwood gave the discus the mightiest fling, and Prince Laodamas outboxed them all.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

The 35-year-old American produced a dominant performance at the Montreal Casino, outboxing the hometown favourite over 10 rounds.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025

The bad blood in the ring started when Mayweather got under Gotti’s skin by outboxing the younger opponent.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 13, 2023

Floyd Mayweather Jr. might have boxed himself into a corner by outboxing Marcos Maidana in their rematch Saturday night.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2014

For six rounds thereafter, crouching to keep his left shoulder between his chin and Schmeling's right hand, Hamas amazed the crowd by outboxing and outpunching the onetime champion.

From Time Magazine Archive