outpace
C1Formal, Business, Academic
Definition
Meaning
To surpass in speed or performance; to go faster or progress more quickly than someone or something else.
To exceed or outperform in rate of growth, development, or achievement over time.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a comparative, dynamic process rather than a static state of being better. Suggests leaving behind or moving ahead in a race-like context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Outpace' is slightly more common in financial/economic reporting in US English (e.g., 'inflation outpaces wages').
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative when describing problems (e.g., demand outpacing supply).
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties; considered a standard, mid-formality verb.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NP outpaces NP (transitive)NP is outpaced by NP (passive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Outpace the field (in a competition)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe one company's growth or performance exceeding another's, or demand exceeding supply.
Academic
Common in economics, sociology, and environmental studies to describe rates of change (e.g., 'CO2 emissions outpace mitigation efforts').
Everyday
Less common in casual speech; used in news contexts or competitive situations (sports, work).
Technical
Used in computing/tech to describe performance benchmarks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new electric model easily outpaced its petrol rivals on the test track.
- London's rental costs continue to outpace the national average.
American English
- Tech sector job growth has outpaced the national rate for five years.
- Our research shows that healthcare costs are outpacing inflation.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cheetah can easily outpace a lion over a short distance.
- Her reading skills outpace those of her classmates.
- Inflation has outpaced wage increases for the second consecutive quarter.
- The startup's innovation allowed it to outpace its established competitors.
- The spread of misinformation on social media often outpaces fact-checking efforts.
- Theoretical models suggest that microbial evolution may outpace our ability to develop new antibiotics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a race where you go OUT of the current PACE and set a new, faster one.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A RACE / COMPETITION IS A RACE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'обогнать' if not about speed/literal race. 'Превышать', 'опережать' are often better for abstract contexts.
- Do not confuse with 'outpace' as a single action; it implies a sustained process of moving ahead.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'outpace' for static comparisons (Wrong: 'His score outpaces mine.' Correct: 'His score surpasses mine.').
- Using without a clear object of comparison (Weak: 'Demand is outpacing.' Better: 'Demand is outpacing supply.').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'outpace' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is most commonly used metaphorically for rates of growth, development, or performance in business, economics, and technology.
Rarely and weakly. It almost always requires a direct object (what is being exceeded).
'Outrun' is more literal and physical (running away from). 'Outpace' is broader, covering any form of surpassing in speed or rate.
It is mid-to-formal register. Common in news, reports, and analysis, but less common in casual conversation.