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

The meeting comes a week after the firm released its Claude Mythos preview, an AI tool that the company claims can outperform humans at some hacking and cyber-security tasks.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

For now, the stock looks like a bargain, and for investors who already own mining stocks, a Gold.com holding can act as a portfolio diversifier that could outperform to the upside.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

The brokerage cuts its rating on the stock to underperform from outperform and lowers the target price to HK$5.20 from HK$5.80.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Some investors have approached software and semiconductors as what professionals call a “pair trade,” meaning they bet on one leg to outperform the other.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Or that the upper triple-A-rated floor of some subprime mortgage bond would outperform the lower, triple-B-rated, floor.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• exceed
• outrun
• surpass