outthink

American  

[out-thingk] / ˌaʊtˈθɪŋk /

verb (used with object)

outthought, outthinking

1. to excel in thinking; think; think faster, more accurately, or more perceptively than.

   outthinking most of her contemporaries in the field of human relations.

2. to get the advantage of (someone) by quick or clever thinking; think; outwit.

   only a split second to outthink his opponent.

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outthink British  

/ ˌaʊtˈθɪŋk /

verb

1. to outdo in thinking

2. to outwit

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Etymology

Origin of outthink

First recorded in 1695–1705; out- + think ¹

Example Sentences

He has been telling anyone who asks that he thinks large language models, or LLMs, are a dead end in the pursuit of computers that can truly outthink humans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 15, 2025

Fedora on head, bullwhip in hand, mind racing a mile a minute to outthink hot-on-his-heels pursuers, he’s very much the Indy of old.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 28, 2023

“If you keep your mental game, you’ll get close. I’m not going to outhit and outputt them, but I can outthink them.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2023

It was fun watching the Richmond coaching staff trying to figure out how to outthink how Nate would inevitably outthink them.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2023

Most of my classmates could outrun me on the playing field and outthink me in the classroom, and I had a good deal of catching up to do.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela