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outperform

/ˌaʊt.pəˈfɔːm/
IELTSAcademic
verb

To do better than someone or something, especially in results, speed, sales, or performance. It often means beating a standard, a rival, or your own earlier result.

  • Our team outperformed last year's sales target.
  • She outperformed the other candidates in the interview.
  • The new model outperforms the old one.

Adinary Nuance

Use outperform when you want to show clear comparison and better results. It is stronger and more competitive than do well or perform well. Compared with beat, it sounds a little more formal and is common in business, sports, and reports.

In other languages

Vietnamese
vượt trội hơn
Spanish
superar
Chinese
表现优于
Japanese
上回る
Korean
능가하다

Etymology

Formed in English from out- plus perform. It appeared in the modern period to mean performing better than another person or thing.

Common phrases

outperform expectationsoutperform the marketoutperform the competitionoutperform last year

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is outperform formal or informal?
It is fairly formal and common in business, academic, and report writing.
Can I say a person outperforms another person?
Yes. It is common when comparing skill, results, or scores.
What is the difference between outperform and beat?
Both mean to do better, but outperform sounds more formal and analytical.
Is outperform used for companies and products?
Yes. It is very common for companies, products, investments, and test results.