outdistance
C1Formal, journalistic, sporting commentary.
Definition
Meaning
To leave someone or something far behind, typically in a race or competition.
To surpass or exceed by a very large margin in any measurable quality, such as performance, achievement, or progress.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a decisive, unassailable lead. Can be used literally for physical distance and figuratively for abstract competition.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Slightly more frequent in American sports and business journalism.
Connotations
Common in competitive contexts (sports, business, politics) in both varieties, carrying a neutral to slightly dramatic tone.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both, with a slight edge in AmE usage databases.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] outdistances [Object] (in/at something)[Subject] is outdistanced by [Object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a company's performance significantly exceeding its competitors' in sales, innovation, or market share.
Academic
Appears in historical or economic texts to describe one nation or theory surpassing another.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used when describing a clear winner in a race or contest.
Technical
Used in sports science and data analysis to quantify performance gaps.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new electric car model quickly outdistanced all its rivals in the endurance test.
- Her academic results outdistanced those of every other student in her year.
American English
- The startup's growth totally outdistanced our projections for the first quarter.
- He outdistanced the competition by over ten seconds in the final lap.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The fastest runner outdistanced the others and won the race.
- In terms of pure processing power, the new chip outdistances anything currently on the market.
- The novel's sales have outdistanced all other books in its genre this year.
- The incumbent's campaign funds so vastly outdistance the challenger's that the election appears a foregone conclusion.
- By pioneering the new technology, the company has outdistanced its competitors, creating a barrier to entry that may last for years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a long-distance race where one runner is so far OUT in front, the DISTANCE to the others is huge.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A RACE (where gaining physical distance equates to superior performance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing with 'дистанцировать' (to distance), which is a false friend. The correct equivalent is 'опередить на большое расстояние' or 'оставить далеко позади'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He outdistanced.' - incorrect). It must have an object.
- Confusing it with 'outlast', which is about duration, not margin.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'outdistance' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its origin is literal, it is now very commonly used in figurative contexts like business, academics, and technology to describe surpassing by a large margin.
'Outpace' focuses on exceeding in speed or rate of progress. 'Outdistance' emphasizes the resulting large gap or lead, not just the speed of achieving it.
Yes, it is common. E.g., 'The early leaders were eventually outdistanced by a newcomer.'
No, it is a transitive verb and takes a direct object (e.g., outdistance someone). Prepositions like 'from' are not used with the verb directly.
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