outpace
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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outpacesimple
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outpacessimple
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have outpacedperfect
-
has outpacedperfect
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am outpacingprogressive
-
are outpacingprogressive
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is outpacingprogressive
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have been outpacingperfect progressive
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has been outpacingperfect progressive
Past
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outpacedsimple
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had outpacedperfect
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was outpacingprogressive
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were outpacingprogressive
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had been outpacingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of outpace
Explanation
To outpace is to move faster or to improve more quickly than someone else. A runner who outpaces everyone else will win the race. You can brag that your bicycle outpaces your friend's motorcycle, or comment that a six year-old easily outpaces her little brother at the playground. There are also companies that outpace their competition, by developing a new technology or product faster. Economists often talk about prices, sales, or growth that outpaces previous examples.
Vocabulary lists containing outpace
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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.
See Examples For:
“New rules are needed for this new tech frontier—not to stifle innovation, but to make sure our innovations do not outpace our protections,” Texas Republican Rep. Nathaniel Moran wrote on social media.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Should those hold, the numbers would outpace the previous year.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The company, which among other things makes dynamic random-access memory chips, is reportedly looking to raise the average sales price of those chips by 20% as demand driven by artificial intelligence continues to outpace supply.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
In 2025, there were just shy of 2,300 cases, which means 2026 is almost certainly going to outpace that record.
From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026
As usual, Emma is talking so fast that her words outpace her brain.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Ashkanazi said on the call that when it comes to AI, "the demand still outpaces that investment".
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” said Sid Shuman, Sony’s senior director of content communications.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
"This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs," it added.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
His $167 million pay package in 2025 not only dwarfs that of his CFO peers but also outpaces the compensation of many CEOs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
She quickly outpaces me, and seconds later, I’m behind her by at least six feet.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
The rate of increase for this year’s forecast was 7.5%, which outpaced last year’s 4% rise.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Overall profit fell, however, as cost increases, led by fuel, outpaced the revenue jump.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Online fraud has surged in India in recent years as rapid digitisation has outpaced awareness of basic internet safety among many users.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
This year, they have been dramatically outpaced by big gains in semiconductor stocks trading in the U.S. and South Korea.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026
Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
But its lifestyle-sneaker business—including its luxury Onitsuka Tiger brand—has been outpacing the growth of performance running in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Blackstone’s infrastructure investing unit was a standout in the quarter, producing gross returns of 7.2%, outpacing the firm’s other investment areas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Critical investments were needed to prevent adversaries from outpacing the US, he continued.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
He whips down the path, outpacing other players easily.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
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.
