ENGLISH
REFERENCE

outweigh

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈaʊtˌweɪ// UK //aʊtwˈeɪ// out·weigh

v. to be more important, useful, or significant than something else. You use this when comparing two things to show which one matters more.

v. to exceed in value, importance, or influence. Transitive — requires a direct object to complete the comparison.


SIMPLE

The benefits of the new job outweigh the long commute.

CONTEXTUAL

Doctors often have to decide if the potential benefits of a surgery outweigh the risks of the procedure.

COMPLEX

In many policy debates, the immediate economic gains of industrial expansion must be carefully measured to see if they outweigh the long-term environmental consequences for future generations.

Synonyms
Origin

From out- + weigh.

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; it is frequently used in the passive voice in academic writing.

Pitfall

The pros outweigh than the consThe pros outweigh the consOutweigh is a transitive verb, not a comparative adjective, so it does not take 'than'.

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