outperform

American  

[out-per-fawrm] / ˌaʊt pərˈfɔrm /

verb (used with object)

1. to surpass in excellence of performance; do better than.

   a new engine that outperforms the competition; a stock that outperformed all others.

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outperform British  

/ ˌaʊtpəˈfɔːm /

verb

1. to perform better than (someone or something)

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Etymology

Origin of outperform

First recorded in 1955–60; out- + perform

Explanation

To outperform is to accomplish something in a better or more impressive way that someone else. In a marathon, the younger runners usually outperform the very oldest ones. Whenever you surpass or beat the record of another person, you can say you outperform them. Experienced workers frequently outperform newer employees, and pundits like to worry aloud about students in other countries who outperform American kids on standardized tests. You can also say that an investment that makes more money outperforms a less profitable one.

Example Sentences

The pair took aim at two art truisms: that works bought for high prices and owned for longer periods outperform.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

The company says it found the tool can outperform humans at some hacking and cyber-security tasks, which has prompted discussions by regulators, legislators and financial institutions about the dangers it could pose to digital services.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Hispanics—overwhelmingly the object of zealous immigration enforcement—consistently outperform all other groups in labor-force participation rates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Macquarie trims its target price 2.7% to A$11.00 and keeps an outperform rating on the stock, which is up 1.7% at A$9.135.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Or that the upper triple-A-rated floor of some subprime mortgage bond would outperform the lower, triple-B-rated, floor.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• exceed
• outrun
• surpass