What does outbuilt mean?
Outbuilt is the past tense and past participle of outbuild, a verb meaning to exceed another in size, quantity, development, or achievement. It is especially common when describing one organization, structure, or competitor as having grown larger or achieved more than another. For example, a company may outbuild a rival by opening more factories, while a monument may outbuild an earlier structure in height and scale. The word can also be used figuratively for outstanding achievement, as when a researcher “outbuilt” the evidence of competing scholars. Its prefix out- carries the idea of surpassing or going beyond, while the ending -built makes the comparison vivid by suggesting physical construction. Although closely related to words such as surpassed and outstripped, outbuilt often adds a stronger implication of sustained scale, development, or accomplishment. It is standard in both British and American English.
verbPast tense and past participle of outbuild: to be greater, more numerous, or more developed than something else.
- To be larger, more numerous, more powerful, or more developed than another thing or person.
- To be built in greater quantity or extent than something else.
"The new stadium outbuilt the old arena in both size and capacity."
"Over the decade, the company outbuilt every rival in its home market."
"Her academic record outbuilt that of all the candidates interviewed that year."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outbuilt come from?
Outbuilt is formed from the prefix out-, meaning beyond or to a greater extent, and build. The verb build ultimately comes from Old English byldan, meaning to construct or make. The prefixed form outbuild developed in the sense of exceeding in size, extent, or development, with outbuilt appearing as its simple past tense and past participle.
Related word forms
How outbuilt is actually used
In standard usage, this form functions as the past tense or past participle of outbuild and is not normally used as an independent verb.