outcompete

verb

out·​com·​pete ˌau̇t-kəm-ˈpēt How to pronounce outcompete (audio)
outcompeted; outcompeting
Synonyms of outcompetenext

transitive verb

: to defeat, outdo, or displace by competing more effectively or aggressively
rival teams trying to outcompete one another
… one popular theory holds that dinosaurs outcompeted rival groups in their rise to world domination.—Kate Wong

Examples of outcompete in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These organisms, when introduced to other ecosystems, can cause a wide array of consequences, from outcompeting native species to damaging infrastructure to introducing pathogens harmful to marine life and, sometimes, humans. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026 The term is most often used to refer to non-native plants that threaten the ecosystems of natural areas by outcompeting with native plants. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026 Scientists have long proposed that modern Homo sapiens outcompeted their robust cousins through sheer intelligence. — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 20 July 2026 While the number of mosquitos that will be released may seem large, Robles explained the district must release ten sterile males to outcompete each wild male. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for outcompete

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outcompete was in 1889

Rhymes for outcompete

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Browse Nearby Words

outcoming
outcompete
out-country
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Cite this Entry

“Outcompete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outcompete. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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