outgo
LowFormal, Technical, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
To go beyond or exceed; to surpass in going out or departing.
The act or process of going out; expenditure or outflow of money, resources, or energy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb, it is largely archaic and has been superseded by 'surpass', 'exceed', or 'outdo'. As a noun, it is used in formal or technical contexts (e.g., accounting, economics) to mean expenditure or outflow, often contrasted with 'income' or 'inflow'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar in both varieties, but the noun form is slightly more likely in British financial/accounting contexts. The verb form is equally archaic in both.
Connotations
The noun carries a formal, technical, or bureaucratic connotation. The verb feels dated and literary.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency for the verb. The noun sees occasional use in specific professional domains.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Noun] outgoes [Noun] (archaic verb)outgo of [Noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in financial statements and reports to categorize expenditures.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical economic texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in accounting, economics, and resource management to describe outflows.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Few heroes outgo the legendary deeds of King Arthur.
- The new model's performance is unlikely to outgo the previous version.
American English
- The company aimed to outgo its competitors in quarterly sales.
- Her generosity would outgo that of anyone I've ever met.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival use]
American English
- [No standard adjectival use]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Too rare for A2 level]
- The company's monthly outgo is very high.
- We must reduce our outgo to save money.
- The report detailed the outgo of capital for the last fiscal year.
- Managing the outgo of resources is crucial for project sustainability.
- The charity's accounts show a worrying disparity between income and outgo.
- In fluid dynamics, we model the outgo from the reservoir precisely.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OUTGO' as what GOes OUT of your wallet (money) or a system (resources).
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCES ARE FLUIDS (outgo is the outflow from a container).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the common phrasal verb 'go out' (выходить). 'Outgo' is a single, formal noun/verb.
- The noun 'outgo' is not the opposite of 'ingo' (no such word); it's the opposite of 'income' (доход).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'outgo' as a common verb meaning 'to leave' (use 'go out').
- Misspelling as 'outgoe' or 'out-going' when used as a noun.
- Using it in casual speech where 'spending' or 'costs' would be natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'outgo' MOST likely to be used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. The noun is used in specific formal/technical contexts like finance. The verb is archaic.
No, that is incorrect. The phrasal verb 'go out' is used for that meaning. 'Outgo' as a verb means to surpass or exceed.
The most direct opposite is 'income' or 'inflow'.
For modern English learners, it is not recommended. Learn its synonyms like 'exceed', 'surpass', or 'outdo' for the verb, and 'expenditure' or 'outflow' for the noun.