outlast
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to endure or last longer than.
The pyramids outlasted the civilization that built them.
-
to live longer than; outlive.
verb
Etymology
Origin of outlast
Explanation
To outlast is to live or survive longer than someone (or something) else. Sturdy old buildings will outlast newer, more flimsy and cheaply made structures. Typically, your parents will outlast your grandparents, and you will outlast your parents. You might convince yourself to buy some outrageously expensive shoes by thinking about the fact that they're so well made, they'll probably outlast the much cheaper pair you were considering. And you might wonder why a terrible TV show has been on for years, managing to outlast several brilliant ones that were cancelled after a single season.
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.
Companies are vying to outlast the competition on range.
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
The actual story is bigger than any one president and will outlast this news cycle by a generation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
Raj added that the firm has managed to "outlast cancel culture" after a series of controversies.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
And because of this shift, analysts at William Blair, led by Jason Ader, have re-evaluated the firm’s benchmarks for assessing which software companies are poised to outlast their competitors amid AI uncertainty.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026
Strong words outlast the paper they are written upon.
From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac
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.
