outdate
LowFormal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
To make something old-fashioned or no longer current.
To cause something to become obsolete, superseded, or no longer in vogue; to render something out of date.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a transitive verb. Often describes the process by which technological advances, new information, or changing trends render previous versions or models obsolete. Less common than the adjective 'outdated' or the phrase 'go out of date'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally uncommon in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly technical or formal in both varieties. Often used in contexts of technology, policy, or systems.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora. The adjective 'outdated' is far more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] outdates [Object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to the verb 'outdate']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe how new products or processes make previous ones obsolete. 'The new software suite will completely outdate our current systems.'
Academic
Used in historical, technological, or sociological analysis. 'The invention of the printing press began to outdate manuscript production.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. More likely to hear 'make outdated' or 'go out of date'. 'Smartphones quickly outdated my old mobile.'
Technical
Common in IT, engineering, and policy writing. 'Each new processor generation threatens to outdate the last.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new EU regulations will outdate many of our current compliance manuals.
- This software update could outdate the previous version within months.
American English
- The latest iPhone model tends to outdate its predecessor instantly.
- New research can quickly outdate established textbooks.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form derived from 'outdate'.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form derived from 'outdate'.]
adjective
British English
- [The adjective form is 'outdated', not 'outdate'.]
American English
- [The adjective form is 'outdated', not 'outdate'.]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- New phones outdate old phones very fast.
- The new law will outdate some of our old company rules.
- Modern fashion often outdates last year's styles.
- The rapid development of AI technology threatens to outdate current programming methods.
- The discovery of new evidence can outdate previous historical theories.
- The groundbreaking treaty has the potential to outdate centuries-old diplomatic conventions.
- Innovations in renewable energy are set to outdate traditional fossil fuel infrastructure.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OUT' of 'DATE'. To put something OUT of its current DATE, making it old.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A FORCE (that renders things obsolete); PROGRESS IS A MOVING TARGET (leaving things behind).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian 'устареть' which is intransitive. 'Outdate' requires an object (something that *does* the outdating). For 'становиться устаревшим', use 'become outdated' or 'go out of date'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The technology outdated.' - Incorrect). Correct: 'The technology *became* outdated' or 'New tech *outdated* the old tech.'
- Confusing it with the more common adjective 'outdated'.
- Overusing this low-frequency verb instead of simpler phrases like 'make obsolete'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'outdate' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency verb. The adjective 'outdated' and phrases like 'go out of date' or 'become obsolete' are far more common.
No, it is a transitive verb. It requires a direct object (the thing that is being made obsolete). You cannot say 'The system outdated.' You must say 'Something outdated the system.'
'Outdate' is a verb meaning 'to make obsolete'. 'Outdated' is an adjective describing something that *is* obsolete. Example: New tech OUTDATES (verb) old tech. Old tech IS OUTDATED (adjective).
Not a standard one. The related noun is 'obsolescence' (the process of becoming obsolete).