outperform

American  

[out-per-fawrm] / ˌaʊt pərˈfɔrm /

verb (used with object)

outperforms, present (3rd person singular) outperformed, past participle, past outperforming present participle

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• outperforming
  present
• outperformed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• outperform
  simple
• outperforms
  simple
• have outperformed
  perfect
• has outperformed
  perfect
• am outperforming
  progressive
• are outperforming
  progressive
• is outperforming
  progressive
• have been outperforming
  perfect progressive
• has been outperforming
  perfect progressive

Past

• outperformed
  simple
• had outperformed
  perfect
• was outperforming
  progressive
• were outperforming
  progressive
• had been outperforming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will outperform
  simple
• will have outperformed
  perfect
• will be outperforming
  progressive
• will have been outperforming
  perfect progressive

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

William Blair reiterated an Outperform rating on Broadcom shares, which have jumped 44% over the last 12 months.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

Macquarie recently upgraded CoreWeave to Outperform with a $125 price target, as the company prepares to join the Nasdaq 100.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

Just last week, Macquarie upgraded shares to Outperform from Neutral with a $125 price target, up from $90.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

RBC Capital Markets downgraded Nike stock to Sector Perform from Outperform and lowered its price target to $50 from $70.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Leerink Partners raised itsTango Therapeutics price target to $69 from $55 and kept its Outperform rating on the shares.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

Related Words

• exceed
• outrun
• surpass