outdo

[ out-doo ]

/ ˌaʊtˈdu /

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See synonyms for: outdo / outdone on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), out·did, out·done, out·do·ing.

to surpass in execution or performance: The cook outdid himself last night.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of outdo

First recorded in 1600–20; out-, do¹

synonym study for outdo

See excel.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use outdo in a sentence

Not to be outdone, London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher announced that he hopes to see 50,000 people running through the streets of the British capital this fall.
Will Major Marathons Actually Come Back This Fall?|Martin Fritz Huber|February 4, 2021|Outside Online
The Nationals believe he will outdo the expectations for his bat.
The Nationals’ top international signing wows with his glove, and the team is bullish on his bat, too|Jesse Dougherty|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
Each extreme needed to outperform the other by raising the stakes, outdoing the other by escalating and inventing new acts of extremism.
The U.S. Capitol Attacked Reminded Me of the 1979 US Embassy Seizure and What Happens When Extremism Wins|Roya Hakakian|January 19, 2021|Time
Not to be outdone, the Los Angeles Rams were handed a loss by the hapless New York Jets on Sunday.
The Steelers, Saints and Rams aren’t finishing strong. For the playoffs, it might not matter.|Neil Greenberg|December 26, 2020|Washington Post

In 2020, we all gained a new appreciation for the power of storytelling, amid a news cycle that seemed determined to outdo itself every week.
The Best Outside Long Reads of 2020|The Editors|December 11, 2020|Outside Online
When they subsequently managed to fingerprint her, she seemed to have outdone Dillinger.
The Mystery Woman Who Tried to Outdo Dillinger|Michael Daly|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not to be outdone, North Korea bans all religious practice of any kind.
State Department Highlights Actual Oppression Against Christians|Jay Michaelson|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not to be outdone, South Korea has a small drone of its own, one with perhaps the best drone name ever: Devil Killer.
Smoke Rings, Mystery Backpacks and Gun-Toting Robots: The Weird Wartech of the Korean Conflict|Kyle Mizokami|April 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and the State Department were not to be outdone by their domestic critics.
Cut the Baloney on Ukraine|Leslie H. Gelb|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The co-stars of Pineapple Express and Freaks and Geeks have really outdone themselves this time.
Watch James Franco and Seth Rogen’s Hilarious Parody of Kanye West’s Music Video For 'Bound 2'|Marlow Stern|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The host, not to be outdone, was sitting with his feet on the railing of the stove, but as far from the spittoon as possible.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
All the knights swore that he had outdone all the cavaliers of the tourney, and must receive the chief prize.
God Wills It!|William Stearns Davis
An Indian chief, excelling all his tribe at a war-dance, could not have outdone the grotesque movements of the colonel.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
Long before Mr. Gladstone had concluded, everyone admitted that the effect of Mr. Disraeli's speech had been outdone and outshone.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 4 of 8|Various
Not to be outdone in courtesy, the French police soon escorted him to the official lodging-house.
Comrade Kropotkin|Victor Robinson

British Dictionary definitions for outdo

outdo

/ (ˌaʊtˈduː) /

verb -does, -doing, -did or -done

(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

outdo

Origin of outdo

synonym study for outdo

Words related to outdo

How to use outdo in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for outdo