outsing
Low (rare, literary/poetic)Literary, poetic, occasionally journalistic. Not common in everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
To sing better, louder, or with more skill than someone else.
To surpass or exceed in a vocal performance; can also be used metaphorically to mean to outperform or outdo in any expressive or compelling manner.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is transitive and typically involves a direct competition or comparison. The metaphorical use implies a form of expressive victory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant systemic differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to appear in American sports journalism (e.g., about a national anthem singer).
Connotations
Both varieties carry a slightly archaic or elevated tone. The competitive connotation is primary.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] outsings [Direct Object] (e.g., The soprano outsang the tenor).[Subject] outsings [Direct Object] in [Aspect] (e.g., She outsang him in power and clarity).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in musicology or comparative literature to describe poetic 'voice'.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cathedral choirboy managed to outsing all the seasoned choristers.
- In the contest, she outsang every other competitor with her powerful rendition.
American English
- The rookie anthem singer outsang the veteran at the Super Bowl.
- He was determined to outsing his rival in the karaoke finals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- No one could outsing Maria in the school competition.
- The lead singer's powerful vocals easily outsang the backing musicians.
- Metaphorically, the poet's verses outsing the prose of his contemporaries in their emotional impact.
- Despite her understated technique, she outsang the more flamboyant diva through sheer interpretative nuance.
- The protest movement sought to outsing the propaganda of the regime with songs of truth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a singing competition: the one who goes OUT of the competition by SINGing the best OUTSINGs the others.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR (vocal competition). EXCELLENCE IS BEING LOUDER/CLEARER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation as *'вне пения'*. The prefix 'out-' here means 'to surpass', not 'outside of'.
- Do not confuse with 'sing out' (to sing loudly).
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'She outsang' - needs an object).
- Confusing it with 'out-sing' as a hyphenated adjective (not standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'outsing' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare and literary verb. You are more likely to encounter 'outshine' or 'outperform' in general contexts.
Yes, though still rarely. It can be used to mean one voice (literal or figurative) surpasses another in expressiveness or impact, e.g., 'The cello's melody outsang the other instruments.'
The standard past tense and past participle is 'outsang'.
No. While it can imply volume, it more broadly means to sing better or more impressively than another, which can involve skill, tone, emotion, or technique.