Synonyms

outweigh

American

[out-wey] / ˌaʊtˈweɪ /

verb (used with object)

to exceed in value, importance, influence, etc..

The advantages of the plan outweighed its defects.

Synonyms:

override, eclipse, overshadow, surpass
to exceed in weight.

The champion will probably outweigh his opponent.
to be too heavy or burdensome for.

Collapse may follow if the load outweighs its supports.

outweigh British

/ ˌaʊtˈweɪ /

verb

to prevail over; overcome

his desire outweighed his discretion
to be more important or significant than
to be heavier than

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of outweigh

First recorded in 1590–1600; out- + weigh ¹

Explanation

To outweigh is to be heavier or more important than something (or someone). A preschooler's needs might outweigh those of his uncle, even if the uncle does outweigh him by 200 pounds. Your Great Dane definitely outweighs your kitten, just like your car outweighs your bicycle and you outweigh the ant you just accidentally stepped on. If someone says "the benefits outweigh the risks," they mean that what can be gained is much more significant that what might be lost or risked: "I think you should apply for that scholarship; the benefits really outweigh the risks."

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Vocabulary lists containing outweigh

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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:

outweigh outweighs outweighed outweighing

The agency noted that the European Commission revoked the drug's marketing authorisation earlier this month because "the benefits are no longer proven to outweigh its risks".

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

"They're trying to make the case that the positives will far outweigh some of those negatives that the public backlash is pointing out," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

But do their public safety benefits outweigh privacy concerns?

From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026

If you have a 2% car loan, keeping your $1,000 invested makes more sense on paper, because the potential long-term return from a diversified portfolio may actually outweigh the relatively low cost of the debt.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

I explained the advantages that could be derived from the long-term artistic products of the club’s writers, and pointed out that these more durable products would outweigh all the pamphleteering.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Javier Pérez came with his family for the opener and told the BBC that the excitement now outweighs any hassles experienced up to this point.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

"The number of receptors in the human eye far outweighs what a camera is able to do."

From Barron's ● Apr. 5, 2026

“Their response has been that their fiduciary responsibility outweighs any other consideration,” Pritchett said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026

“With the valuation having taken a substantial cut, even considering the overall decrease in valuations across software, we believe the upside potential far outweighs the downside risk,” Moerdler wrote.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 30, 2026

I decide my need to know mostly outweighs my preference to not know.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

By 2014, the program as a whole actually had made money for taxpayers, as the losses were outweighed by repaid loans from companies that had found success.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Markowicz said that the cost of refinancing outweighed the benefit for now, particularly because they plan to move to a bigger house in the near future.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

But, it said, "these are likely to be outweighed by other actions that may increase emissions".

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

There have been astonishing increases in AI use in 2026, and the increase in token use has vastly outweighed the declining “per token cost”.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

I began teaching in New York Mosque Seven that a man’s accomplishments in his life outweighed his personal, human weaknesses.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

Cigarette volume grew in Turkey, Indonesia and Egypt, outweighing declines in other markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

“I think the earnings story of small caps is outweighing some of the fears of higher rates.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Shipments of semiconductors and related products continued to drive South Korea’s export growth, outweighing weakness in other sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

On balance, Europe sees the risks of getting directly involved as outweighing the benefits.

From Barron's ● Mar. 17, 2026

So much for the good outweighing the bad.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023