Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Outdo for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Welcome. Today's word is 'outdo' — a verb.
Narrator: Pronounced out-DOO, IPA /ˌaʊtˈduː/.
Narrator: To outdo means to do better than someone else — to exceed, surpass, or go beyond what another has achieved.
Narrator: Pairs out- meaning beyond, with do — the most fundamental English verb. Outdo means to do more than.
Narrator: Often reflexive — he outdid himself — meaning someone surpassed their own previous best, which is considered impressive praise.
Narrator: In competitive contexts outdo implies a direct comparison. In social contexts it expresses admiration.
Narrator: The past tense is outdid — he outdid his rival. The past participle is outdone — she has outdone herself.
Narrator: Register is informal to neutral — energetic and direct.
Narrator: To outdo someone is to make their best look not quite good enough.
Speaker A: The catering team really outdid themselves — three courses, live cooking station. Extraordinary.
Speaker B: He outdid himself is almost always positive — it means someone exceeded their own standard.
Speaker A: And in competition — trying to outdo a rival?
Speaker B: They launched two days earlier to outdo their competitor. Outdo implies deliberate intention, not just happening to be better.
Speaker A: Outdo versus outperform?
Speaker B: Outperform is clinical — finance and analytics. Outdo is personal and energetic — a direct human competition.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Past tense is outdid, not outed. Past participle is outdone. Always transitive — you outdo someone, never just outdo alone.
Speaker B: Outdo in AI prompts — competitive benchmarking, gamification, systems that push outputs beyond a previous baseline. Five prompts.
Speaker A: Outdo in a prompt means: build comparison in — show the baseline and reward whatever exceeds it.
Outdo — meaning in Arabic & definition More O courses GL Dictionary