outplay

verb

out·​play ˌau̇t-ˈplā How to pronounce outplay (audio)
outplayed; outplaying; outplays

transitive verb

: to play better than
especially : to outdo in playing a game
The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter, but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win … The Times Union (Albany, New York)

Examples of outplay 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.
But the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Slater, a former first-round selection, has outplayed his contract and is possibly making a statement by skipping practices. Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 The contestants joining White to outwit, outplay and outlast each other on the famed reality competition series hail from 19 different seasons, including two from the upcoming Season 49, which premieres this fall. Dan Heching, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 They were heavily outshot and outplayed with the series on the line multiple times, but most egregiously in Game 7, when Florida ran them out of the rink in outshooting them 18-5 in the second period. James Mirtle, New York Times, 19 May 2025 That's where the locker room leaders presented a message: Performances like the one in Game 5, when the Celtics outplayed, outhustled and outthought the Knicks, were unacceptable. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for outplay

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outplay was in 1702

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Cite this Entry

“Outplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outplay. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

outplay

verb
out·​play
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈplā
: to play better than
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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