What does outdoing mean?
Outdoing means to achieve more than another person or to surpass an established standard. It is the present participle of the verb outdo, whose past tense is outdid and past participle is outdone. The word is used when comparing performance, ability, achievement, or results: a product may outdo a rival, or a competitor may outdo an opponent. Its connotation is generally competitive and often suggests exceeding expectations or achieving a notably superior result. Although outdo can imply superiority in a positive sense, it can also be used neutrally to describe strong competition or dominance. In everyday use, outdoing is often linked with collocations such as outdo the competition and outdo expectations.
verbTo do better than someone else in a particular activity or achievement. It can also mean to exceed a standard, limit, or previous performance.
- To do better than another person or thing
- To exceed a standard, limit, or previous performance
"Her innovative approach continued to outdo those of her competitors."
"The team worked together to outdo their previous record."
"Her determination to outdo herself led to a remarkable comeback."
Outdoing is the present participle of outdo, a word whose past form changes dramatically: outdid becomes outdone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outdoing come from?
The word outdo combines the prefix out- with the Old English infinitive dōn, meaning 'to do.' The prefix out- has long expressed completion, excess, or superiority, as in words such as outside and outward. The compound outdo developed with the sense of doing more than another person or thing. Its irregular forms outdid and outdone reflect the historical development of the verb, with the past participle replacing the older form out-done.
Related word forms
How outdoing is actually used
The form is commonly used as a present participle, especially after an auxiliary verb: 'She is outdoing all the other candidates.' The verb is transitive and usually takes a person, group, achievement, or standard as its object.