Meaning & Definition of word "Outsmart"
to
Outsmart
/aʊtˈsmɑrt/
verb:
- 1. to gain the upper hand over someone by being more clever or shrewder.
- Example: She managed to outsmart her opponents in the chess tournament with unexpected tactics.
- 2. to deceive or trick someone by being more intelligent.
- Example: He tried to outsmart the security system by hacking into it, but he was caught.
- 3. to use ingenuity or cleverness to achieve a goal.
- Example: In their quest for victory, the team sought to outsmart their rivals by studying their strategies.
- 4. to achieve a desired result by employing clever strategies.
- Example: The detective outsmarted the criminal by anticipating his next move.
Etymology
The word 'outsmart' is a combination of the prefix 'out-' meaning 'to a greater degree' and 'smart' from Middle English 'smerte' meaning 'keen' or 'intelligent'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
outsmart the competition:
To be more clever than your competition.
outsmart yourself:
To make a foolish mistake through your own cleverness.
Related Words
outwit:
To outsmart someone; to defeat or trick someone by cleverness.
cunning:
Having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion.
Slang Meanings of outsmart
Meaning: Pull a fast one
Example Sentence: He really pulled a fast one on them with his clever plan.
Meaning: Slick move
Example Sentence: That was a slick move to outsmart your boss!