outshine

[ out-shahyn ]

verb (used with object)

, out·shone or out·shined, out·shin·ing.

1. to surpass in shining; shine more brightly than.
2. to surpass in splendor, ability, achievement, excellence, etc.:

   a product that outshone all competitors; to outshine one's classmates.

verb (used without object)

, out·shone or out·shined, out·shin·ing.

1. to shine out or forth:

   a small light outshining in the darkness.

outshine

/ ˌaʊtˈʃaɪn /

verb

1. tr to shine more brightly than
2. tr to surpass in excellence, beauty, wit, etc
3. rare.
   intr to emit light

Word History and Origins

Origin of outshine¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; out- + shine ¹

Example Sentences

When the ball dropped to any of them 25 yards out, was their instinct, untamed by multi-outlet criticism, to try and outshine the stars elsewhere?

From BBC

The conversation quickly turned tense when the former president indicated that he was leaning toward Doug Burgum, until recently the largely unknown governor of North Dakota — but someone whose low-maintenance, no-drama personality would never threaten to outshine Trump.

From Slate

With royal authority now disintegrating under the latter's mentally unstable son Charles VI, the ambitious Philip sought not only to rule his appanage as an effectively independent duke, but also to outshine all other fiefdoms in power, riches, and magnificence.

From Salon

Galactic mergers can produce bright quasars that outshine the entire galaxy.

From Space Scoop

Flickers of spliced-in footage from Federer’s youth eulogize the grace that will forever outshine his four brutal knee surgeries.

From New York Times

Related Words

• outperform
• outplay
• transcend