Meaning & use
outplay
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Meanings
verbtransitive
to play better than an opponent and defeat them
Grammar: Takes an object: outplay someone or a team. Often used in passive: be outplayed.
Patterns
- outplay someone
- outplay a team
- be outplayed by someone
The home team outplayed their rivals in the second half.
She outplayed her opponent with smart serves and quick returns.
We were outplayed in every part of the game.
verbtransitive
to do better than someone in a contest or competition, not always in sports
Grammar: Can be used in business, politics, or games: outplay someone at something.
Patterns
- outplay someone at something
- outplay the competition
The small startup outplayed larger companies at attracting young users.
He outplayed his rivals in the debate with clear arguments.
Word forms
| third person singular | outplays |
|---|---|
| past tense | outplayed |
| past participle | outplayed |
| -ing form | outplaying |
Common combinations
- outplay an opponent
- The champion outplayed every opponent in the tournament.
- completely outplay
- The visiting team completely outplayed the hosts.
- outplay someone at their own game
- She outplayed him at his own game of chess.
Synonyms and how they differ
- beat
- A general word for defeating someone; 'outplay' emphasizes playing better, not just winning.
- defeat
- More formal and often used for wars or elections; 'outplay' is more common in sports and games.
- outclass
- Means to be much better than someone, often by a large margin; 'outplay' can be by a small margin.
Opposites
Word family
- outplayed adjective
- Describes a team or player that has been beaten by better play.
Commonly confused: outplay or out play?
outplay vs out play
This is a misspelling; the correct form is one word: 'outplay'.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 'The underdogs ___ the champions in yesterday's match.'
Choose one answer.
The sentence is in the past tense, so the past form 'outplayed' is needed. The other options are present, -ing, or third-person singular forms that do not fit the past time reference.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “outplay”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.