Outstrip
/ˌaʊtˈstrɪp/
verbB2
Definition
Outstrip means to be ahead of someone or something by a large amount. It usually talks about moving faster, improving more, or having more success than others. You can outstrip in speed, numbers, skills, or achievements.
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See It in Action
To move faster or go ahead of someone or something
- •The runner outstripped all his competitors in the final lap.
- •This new technology outstrips older models in speed and efficiency.
- •Our sales this year have outstripped last year’s by a large margin.
To exceed or be greater than a number, amount, or expectation
- •Demand for the product has outstripped supply.
- •The company's profits outstripped analysts’ predictions.
- •The population growth in the city outstripped the available housing.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "outstrip" like "pass" (A1 word), but stronger—it means you not only pass but leave far behind
- ✓Picture a runner in a race who not only passes others but runs so fast they disappear ahead
- ✓It's the feeling of winning clearly and being much better than others around you
- ✓Sounds like "out-STRIP" → imagine pulling a strip (a long piece) ahead of others, stretching far in front
- ✓Think of a car that goes faster than all others on the road and leaves them behind quickly
- ✓NOT like "catch up" (which means to reach the same level), "outstrip" means to go beyond and stay ahead
- ✓NOT like "equal" or "match," "outstrip" means to be clearly more or better than the rest
Try Other Words
- •Exceed: to be more than a number or limit (Use when talking about numbers or amounts going beyond something)
- •Surpass: to be better or greater than (Use when focusing on quality or achievement)
- •Outperform: to do better than others, especially in work or sports (Use when comparing performance)
- •Leave behind: to go ahead and not let others catch up (Use in informal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "out-": means "beyond" or "more than"
- •Root "strip": from old English meaning "to remove or pull off," here meaning "to go beyond or ahead"
- •Origin: English, used since the 1600s, originally meaning to go beyond or surpass
- •Historical development: from physical movement (going past) to general meaning of exceeding or being better
- •Modern usage: common in business, sports, and general competition to show someone or something is ahead or better
Reflect & Connect
•In what situations can outstripping be a good thing, and when might it cause problems?
•How do you feel when you outstrip others, or when others outstrip you?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company's sales figures outstrip ___ expectations by a large amount.
2.When a student outstrips their classmates, it usually means they ___ more or work harder.
3.In a race, to outstrip someone means to ___ them clearly and not just tie.
4.If demand outstrips supply, it means there are ___ products than buyers want.
5.The new phone model outstrips the old one in ___ and speed.
6.Athletes who outstrip their rivals often ___ more training and effort.
7.When profits outstrip costs, a business usually makes a ___.