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

But three things have since changed for Intel, according to Lipacis, who upgraded the stock to outperform from in-line following Thursday afternoon’s earnings report.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

RBC has a last-published outperform rating and A$5.20 target price on the stock, which is up 4.1% at A$5.91.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The digital currency tends to outperform when investors lean into risk assets, which have been buoyed recently by the prospects of a sustained peace in Iran.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“I was always trying to out-think, outperform, even out-dress my competitors. It was wearing me down.”

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Related Words

• exceed
• outrun
• surpass