outperform

American  

[out-per-fawrm] / ˌaʊt pərˈfɔrm /

verb (used with object)

1. to surpass in excellence of performance; do better than.

   a new engine that outperforms the competition; a stock that outperformed all others.

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outperform British  

/ ˌaʊtpəˈfɔːm /

verb

1. to perform better than (someone or something)

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Etymology

Origin of outperform

First recorded in 1955–60; out- + perform

Explanation

To outperform is to accomplish something in a better or more impressive way that someone else. In a marathon, the younger runners usually outperform the very oldest ones. Whenever you surpass or beat the record of another person, you can say you outperform them. Experienced workers frequently outperform newer employees, and pundits like to worry aloud about students in other countries who outperform American kids on standardized tests. You can also say that an investment that makes more money outperforms a less profitable one.

Example Sentences

But, they point out, over that time the market’s defensive sectors still outperform a money-market fund, on average.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Buying Nvidia here is perfectly defensible, but anyone who wants a name that could outperform other chip names or the market by leaps and bounds might want to look elsewhere.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Bernstein analysts maintain an outperform rating for the stock and raised its target price to 620 yuan from 600 yuan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Narayan rates Tesla at outperform and slashed his price target to $480 per share from $500 per share.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

“I was always trying to out-think, outperform, even out-dress my competitors. It was wearing me down.”

From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake

Related Words

• exceed
• outrun
• surpass