outweigh
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to exceed in value, importance, influence, etc..
The advantages of the plan outweighed its defects.
- Synonyms:
- override, eclipse, overshadow, surpass
-
to exceed in weight.
The champion will probably outweigh his opponent.
-
to be too heavy or burdensome for.
Collapse may follow if the load outweighs its supports.
verb
-
to prevail over; overcome
his desire outweighed his discretion
-
to be more important or significant than
-
to be heavier than
Etymology
Origin of outweigh
Explanation
To outweigh is to be heavier or more important than something (or someone). A preschooler's needs might outweigh those of his uncle, even if the uncle does outweigh him by 200 pounds. Your Great Dane definitely outweighs your kitten, just like your car outweighs your bicycle and you outweigh the ant you just accidentally stepped on. If someone says "the benefits outweigh the risks," they mean that what can be gained is much more significant that what might be lost or risked: "I think you should apply for that scholarship; the benefits really outweigh the risks."
Vocabulary lists containing outweigh
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out (beyond)
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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.
Although he has issued an apology, it isn’t convincing or sufficient to outweigh the pattern of behavior that came before it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
Asked how she felt about the possibility that a competitor's money could outweigh her talent, Creed said that has "always been a big concern".
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Meanwhile, credit and card spending are tracking well, with fiscal stimulus, like tax refunds, expected to outweigh the impact of rising gas prices on household budgets.
From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026
The actual financial benefits depend on whether you are insuring your car, your home or your life — and whether the potential long-term gains outweigh the higher upfront costs.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026
“What if the good doesn’t outweigh the bad?”
From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
