What does outrunning mean?
Outrunning means running faster than another person, animal, or vehicle, as in a race or an attempt to escape. It can also mean escaping from an unwanted situation, although that use is less common in modern English. More broadly, the verb is used figuratively to describe surpassing competitors in achievement, growth, success, or performance. A company that is outranking its rivals, for example, is gaining ground or achieving results that exceed theirs. The present participle ending in -ing is especially frequent in progressive constructions such as “is outrunning” and in descriptive phrases such as “an outrunning vehicle.” The word combines the prefix out- with run, expressing the idea of getting ahead of someone through greater speed or effectiveness. Although it can describe literal movement, its figurative use is often deliberately dynamic, suggesting momentum, initiative, and a widening advantage.
verbTo run faster than someone or something, especially in a race. Figuratively, it means to exceed or surpass someone in progress, achievement, or ability.
- To run faster than another person or animal.
- To escape from someone or something by running.
- To surpass someone in progress, achievement, ability, or performance.
"The young sprinter was outrunning all the other competitors."
"The hare was outrunning the hounds across the open field."
"Her startup is outrunning larger competitors in annual revenue."
From the simple idea of running ahead comes a word for surpassing rivals, progress, or even challenges.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outrunning come from?
The word is formed from the prefix out- and the verb run, following the pattern of other English compounds such as overrun. Its development originally centered on moving ahead of another person or animal in a race or chase. Over time, the expression acquired the broader sense of surpassing someone in achievement or performance. The prefix out- has long conveyed a sense of being beyond, beyond another, or exceeding another, while run belongs to the Germanic and Old English verbal lineage represented by related forms such as runner and runaway.
Related word forms
How outrunning is actually used
The word is often used figuratively for business, technology, personal achievement, or competition. It is more common in relatively dynamic contexts than for a gradual advantage that does not involve a clear lead.
Easily confused with outrunning
“Outrunning” is the present participle of “outrun,” while “outrun” is the base form used in finite verb constructions and infinitive clauses.