outwit
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to get the better of by superior ingenuity or cleverness; outsmart.
to outwit a dangerous opponent.
- Synonyms:
- finesse, outthink, outmaneuver, outfox, outguess
-
Archaic. to surpass in wisdom or knowledge.
verb
-
to get the better of by cunning or ingenuity
-
archaic to be of greater intelligence than
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
outwitsimple
-
outwitssimple
-
have outwittedperfect
-
has outwittedperfect
-
am outwittingprogressive
-
are outwittingprogressive
-
is outwittingprogressive
-
have been outwittingperfect progressive
-
has been outwittingperfect progressive
Past
-
outwittedsimple
-
had outwittedperfect
-
was outwittingprogressive
-
were outwittingprogressive
-
had been outwittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of outwit
Explanation
Use the verb outwit to describe using your brain to beat an opponent, like outwitting someone by figuring out the answer to a difficult riddle. Wit comes from the Old English word witan, which means "to know." So someone who outwits another person knows more — or at least knows more than the person thought. You can outwit someone with clever words, or with craftiness on the playing field. An unexpected strategy can help one side outwit the other on the battlefield.
Vocabulary lists containing outwit
100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Others collaborate to outwit or even manipulate humans.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Maybe all the answers have already been written, and we’re just characters in a story, trying to outwit fate.
From Salon • May 19, 2026
Liz is a compelling creation, at once smart, sassy and wily, and there is fun to be had watching her slickly outwit credulous individuals.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025
Unlike Harry and co, who would perform hair-raising manoeuvres while soaring through the air on broomsticks, real-life players try to outwit their opponents astride PVC pipes.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025
I enjoyed the feeling that I could eat, sleep and be warm, and outwit the storms that blasted the mountains and the subzero temperatures that numbed them.
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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.
