# outnumber

/aʊtˈnəmbɝ/ (US) · /aʊtnˈʌmbɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outnumber
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to have more of something than another group or thing. You use this when you want to say one group is larger than another.

For teachers: to be greater in number than another group or entity. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the group being compared.

## Examples

- The number of students in the class outnumber the teachers.
- In many rural areas, the number of elderly residents often outnumbers the younger population.
- While the initial survey suggested a narrow lead, the final results showed that the opposition candidates outnumbered the incumbent party by a significant margin.

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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.