Synonyms

outdo

American

[out-doo] / ˌaʊtˈdu /

verb (used with object)

to surpass in execution or performance.

The cook outdid himself last night.

outdo British

/ ˌaʊtˈduː /

verb

(tr) to surpass or exceed in performance or execution

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See excel.

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Inflected Forms

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Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of outdo

First recorded in 1600–20; out-, do ¹

Explanation

To outdo is to beat or surpass: when you outdo your brother in a pie-eating contest, you manage to gobble down more lemon meringue than he does. You'll probably regret it later, but at least you'll have that blue ribbon! Anyone who outdoes another person wins against them in some contest, whether it's an actual competition or an unstated rivalry. You can also outdo your own record, like when you outdo last semester's grades with the help of all the As you get in English. And you can cheer for your favorite basketball team as they outdo their opponents by easily winning the game.

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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.

"It's clear just how passionate Messi still is for football and you can tell it's in his DNA to always be a competitor, and to try and outdo himself more than anyone else," Giroud says.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

Hitchcock gave Herrmann the choice of writing a new cantata, but Herrmann realized that nothing could outdo “Storm Clouds.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Even in abnormal political times, competition can be healthy, spurring journalists to match or outdo rival outlets.

From Slate • Mar. 18, 2026

Arteta said the two had even taken their competitive spirit to trying to outdo each other in the gym, but were great friends off the pitch.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

I also noticed that everything Elizabeth does, Jessica tries to outdo.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023