Outdo

/aʊtˈduː/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to surpass or exceed in performance or achievement
She always tries to outdo herself with each new project she undertakes.
to be better than someone in a competition or contest
He wanted to outdo his rivals in the annual baking competition.
to show off or demonstrate superiority over someone
In an effort to outdo his friends, he bought an even faster sports car.
to excel or outperform another
The new marketing strategy aims to outdo previous efforts in customer engagement.
to achieve a greater degree of something than another
She hoped to outdo her last performance with this new song.

Etymology

Middle English 'outdone', from 'out-' + 'do'

Common Phrases and Expressions

outdo oneself:
to perform better than one has done before
to outdo the competition:
to surpass rivals in performance or quality

Related Words

Slang Meanings

to show off in a competitive manner
He really outdid himself with that performance.
to one-up someone in a conversation or situation
She always tries to outdo my stories with hers.