What does outbidding mean?
Outbidding means making a higher offer than someone else, especially in an auction, tender, or other competitive process involving bids. It is the present participle and gerund form of outbid, and it can also be used figuratively when one company, bidder, or competitor surpasses another through a greater investment, offer, or effort. The word is neutral in tone and is used in both British and American English. In a literal auction, outbidding increases the price paid by the final buyer and may lead to competing bidders to raise their offers repeatedly. Figuratively, it describes efforts to secure an advantage over rivals, such as outbidding another business for a contract. The term is especially associated with competitive markets and with situations in which success depends on making a stronger offer than an opponent.
verbThe act of making a higher offer than another person in an auction, tender, or similar competitive process. It can also mean trying to surpass a competitor by offering more or achieving a greater result.
- Making a higher bid than another bidder in an auction or similar sale.
- Surpassing a competitor by making a greater offer, investment, or effort.
"The two bidders continued outbidding each other until the final price reached several thousand pounds."
"She kept outbidding other collectors until she secured the original manuscript."
"The company is outbidding rival firms for contracts by offering lower prices."
In an auction, the winner is often not the person who values an item most, but the person willing to keep raising the bid.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of outbidding
Outbidding is formed from the prefix out-, the verb bid, and the ending -ing, with out- meaning to exceed another person’s bid. Bid comes from Old English biddan, originally meaning to ask, request, or pray, and developed the auction-related sense of offering a price. The word shares its root with forms such as bidder and biddable, while related Germanic cognates appear in other English words derived from the same inherited verbal root.
Related word forms
How outbidding is actually used
Outbidding is a standard verb form and is neutral in register. It is commonly used in auctions and bidding competitions, but figurative uses are also common in business and competitive contexts.
Easily confused with outbidding
Outbidding is the present participle or gerund of outbid, while outbid is the simple past tense and past participle.