outmaneuver

Outmaneuver is a transitive verb meaning to defeat or outpace an opponent by superior maneuvering, planning, or positioning. It implies gaining an advantage through organizational or spatial tactics rather than sheer force. The term is common in military, sports, chess, and business contexts.

In practice, to outmaneuver someone is to anticipate their moves and place one’s own resources or position so that the opponent cannot respond effectively. This may involve rapid repositioning, feints, timing, or exploiting constraints in the opponent’s setup. For example, a general might outmaneuver an enemy by executing a rapid flank, a chess player by repositioning pieces to create a decisive attack, or a company by outmaneuvering rivals through supply-chain efficiency or market timing.

Usage notes: It is usually transitive, as in "The general outmaneuvered his opponents." Spelling varies by English variant: American English uses outmaneuver, while British English often uses outmanoeuvre. The concept is closely related to but distinct from outthink or outwit, which emphasize cognitive advantage rather than physical or positional maneuvering.

See also: Outflank, outthink, outwit, outpace, strategic maneuvering.