What does outdistance mean?
Outdistance is a transitive verb meaning to go farther than another person or thing and thereby leave it behind. It is especially natural for runners, vehicles, vessels, and other moving competitors: saying that someone “outdistanced the field” conveys not simply that the subject finished first but that it continued to increase its lead. In other contexts, the word means to exceed another in distance covered. Outdistance belongs mainly to formal or literary English and is less common than the broader surpass or overtake, but it offers a precise focus on physical separation. Because it compares distance rather than quality, achievement, or duration, it is not a general substitute for outdo. The word is formed transparently from the prefix out- and the noun distance and belongs to a family that includes distant and distantly.
verbTo go farther than someone or something, especially a competitor, and thereby leave it behind.
- To travel a greater distance than another person, vehicle, or competitor, thereby leaving it behind.
"The champion runner steadily outdistanced her nearest rivals as the course entered its final hills."
"The champion runner steadily outdistanced her nearest rivals as the course entered its final hills."
"The older sailing ship outdistanced the cutter once the wind shifted."
To outdistance a rival is to leave them behind in space, not merely in the score.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outdistance come from?
Outdistance is an English formation in out- and distance, with out- conveying the sense “farther than” or “beyond.” Distance entered English through Old French from Latin distantia, meaning “distance” or “remoteness”; this was derived from distare, “to stand apart,” formed from dis-, meaning “apart,” and stare, “to stand.” The same Latin foundation is reflected in distant, from which distantly was subsequently formed.
Related word forms
How outdistance is actually used
Relatively uncommon and somewhat literary or formal. It is especially used when a competitor is left progressively farther behind and normally takes a direct object.
Easily confused with outdistance
Outdistance means to go farther ahead, while outpace means to move faster than someone or something.