outdo

/ˌaʊtˈduː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌaʊtˈduː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌau̇t-ˈdü/ (ame, mw)

outdo — verb

  • outdopresent simple I / you / we / they
  • outdoeshe / she / it
  • outdidpast simple
  • outdonepast participle
  • outdoing-ing form

1. to do more, achieve a higher level, or perform better than another person or gro

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to do more, achieve a higher level, or perform better than another person or group who are trying to do the same thing or meet the same standard.

例句

The sales team in Santiago outdid their own record from the previous quarter by a wide margin.

outdo + possessive + record — doing better than yourself

At the science fair, Lin Wei outdid every other student with a working model of a wind turbine.

outdo + [person] in [activity]

同義詞
  • surpass

    more formal; often used for measurable achievements like scores or records

  • exceed

    focuses on going beyond a limit or expectation rather than comparing to another person

  • outperform

    more formal; usually about measurable results in business or sports

反義詞
  • fall behind

    to be less successful or slower than someone else

文法句型

outdo + noun phrase (person/group)

outdo + noun phrase + in/at + noun phrase

用法筆記

Also used reflexively ('outdo oneself') to mean doing better than one has done before, without comparing to other people.

常見錯誤

❌She outdid in the exam.
✅She outdid everyone in the exam.
💡'outdo' must be followed by a direct object (someone). You cannot use it alone.

2. to beat an opponent in a competitive activity by being quicker, stronger, or mor

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to beat an opponent in a competitive activity by being quicker, stronger, or more skilful, so that you win and they lose.

例句

The underdog team from Osaka outdid the defending champions by three points in the final minute.

outdo + opponent by [score] in [context]

Fatima outdid her older brother in the chess tournament and took home the trophy.

同義詞
  • defeat

    more common for direct competition; focuses on the outcome rather than the level of performance

  • beat

    informal and very common in sports; can be used in any tense including ongoing action

  • overcome

    focuses on the difficulty of the opponent or situation rather than the comparison

反義詞

文法句型

outdo + noun phrase (opponent)

用法筆記

This sense overlaps with 'defeat' but 'outdo' emphasises performing at a higher level, not just the final result. It is less common than 'beat' or 'defeat' in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌They outdo us.' (during the game)
✅They outdid us in the final match.
💡'outdo' sounds unnatural for ongoing action; use 'beat' instead. 'Outdo' usually refers to a completed event.