outnumber

American  

[out-nuhm-ber] / ˌaʊtˈnʌm bər /

verb (used with object)

1. to exceed in number.

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outnumber British  

/ ˌaʊtˈnʌmbə /

verb

1. (tr) to exceed in number

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Etymology

Origin of outnumber

First recorded in 1660–70; out- + number

Explanation

To outnumber is to have more of one thing than another. Sometimes it’s good, like when chocolate chips outnumber the raisins in the trail mix. Sometimes it’s bad, like when ants outnumber the people at a picnic. In many cities, pigeons seem to outnumber any other kind of bird — in other words, there are more pigeons than sparrows, crows, and robins. If the girls in a class outnumber boys by three to one, there are three times more girls than boys. And in a school cafeteria, lunches that include meat will often outnumber the vegetarian choices. This verb has been around since the 1600s. It makes it sound like counting is a competition.

Example Sentences

New lows still outnumber new highs on the NYSE, so this indicator remains bearish.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

The roughly 16,000-square-foot establishment is a beloved gathering spot for bikers, especially on weekends, when motorcycles in the parking lot usually outnumber cars.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The idea is fairly simple: unleash sterile males so that they far outnumber wild ones — say, 10 to 1 or even 100 to 1.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

One notable outlier is Saudi Arabia, where women outnumber men in the AI-skilled talent pool.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Good days outnumber the bad now, but eventually only bad days will remain.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• exceed