Synonyms

outpace

American

[out-peys] / ˌaʊtˈpeɪs /

verb (used with object)

outpaced, outpacing

to surpass or exceed, as in speed, development, or performance.

a company that has consistently outpaced the competition in sales.

outpace British

/ aʊtˈpeɪs /

verb

to run or move faster than (someone or something else)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of outpace

First recorded in 1565–75; out- + pace ¹

Explanation

To outpace is to move faster or to improve more quickly than someone else. A runner who outpaces everyone else will win the race. You can brag that your bicycle outpaces your friend's motorcycle, or comment that a six year-old easily outpaces her little brother at the playground. There are also companies that outpace their competition, by developing a new technology or product faster. Economists often talk about prices, sales, or growth that outpaces previous examples.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wage growth accelerated again last month, and continues to outpace annual consumer price inflation, which has hovered around the central bank’s 2% target for about two years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

“GIFT City has considerable ground to cover before it can outpace established global hubs,” comments Gayathri Parthasarathry, a financial services advisor at the firm.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Anthropic’s latest model “presages an upcoming wave of models that can exploit vulnerabilities in ways that far outpace the efforts of defenders,” the company said in the leaked documents obtained by Fortune.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Granted, a 3% annual increase in payments doesn’t guarantee you’ll outpace inflation — but it comes pretty darn close.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

As usual, Emma is talking so fast that her words outpace her brain.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023