# outdo

/ˌaʊtˈdu/ (US) · /aʊtdˈuː/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outdo
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to do something better or more successfully than someone else. You use this when you want to show that you are the best at a task.

For teachers: to surpass or exceed another in quality, quantity, or achievement. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the person or thing being compared.

## Examples

- She tried to outdo her brother in the science fair.
- The rival company tried to outdo our marketing campaign by offering even more discounts to customers.
- In a culture that values individual achievement, many students feel pressured to outdo their peers by taking on increasingly difficult extracurricular activities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.