What does outstrip mean?
Outstrip means to go beyond another person or thing in amount, extent, quality, or performance. Its use often suggests a decisive difference: demand may outstrip supply, sales may outstrip expectations, or a new model may outstrip its rivals. Although the word can describe numerical excess, it is also widely used figuratively for achievement and comparative success. It is especially common in formal reporting, business writing, sports coverage, and literary criticism, where it conveys a clear hierarchy rather than a narrow lead. For example, one product might outstrip another in popularity, while a nation's output outstrips that of a competitor. The word is related to outpace, but it does not necessarily imply travelling or acting more quickly; its central idea is being greater or more successful than something else.
verbTo exceed or surpass someone or something in amount, degree, quality, or performance.
- To exceed or surpass in amount or degree.
- To surpass someone in achievement, quality, or performance.
"The company is investing heavily in research to outstrip its competitors."
"Demand for the product continues to outstrip supply."
"Her second novel outstripped the sales of her first."
Outstrip literally evokes moving beyond something by a strip, but its modern meaning is simply to surpass it decisively.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does outstrip come from?
Outstrip was formed in early modern English by combining out- with strip. The prefix out- carries the sense of beyond or surpassing, while strip in the compound refers to extending beyond a boundary or leaving something behind. Related forms built on out-, such as outside and outward, share the same Germanic prefix, though they do not preserve the full force of the compound.
Related word forms
How outstrip is actually used
The word is formal and commonly used in business, economic, literary, and competitive contexts. It is transitive and normally takes a person, thing, quantity, or expectation as its object.
Easily confused with outstrip
Outstrip means to surpass someone in amount, quality, or achievement, whereas outpace usually means to move faster than someone.