outdo

Outdo is a verb meaning to surpass or exceed someone or something in performance, achievement, or quality. It is transitive, taking a direct object, as in “The runner outdid the field” or “She outdid herself with the presentation.” The term can refer to competitive outcomes or to any situation in which one effort or result is greater than another.

Form and usage: outdo, outdid, outdoing, and outdoes are its principal forms. The present tense “outdoes” is used for third-person singular subjects (The dancer outdoes all others). The phrase “outdo oneself” is a common idiom meaning to perform better than one has previously done.

Etymology: the verb is formed with the prefix out-, meaning beyond or surpassing, attached to do. It dates from Early Modern English and has remained productive in modern usage.

Contexts: outdo is often used in sports, contests, and assessments of work or art, but it can also refer to everyday tasks or achievements (e.g., “The company outdid expectations”). Related synonyms include surpass, exceed, eclipse, beat, and outpace; antonyms include underperform and fall short.