outsold
C1Formal, business, commercial, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
past tense and past participle of 'outsell' – to sell more than another person or product; to exceed in sales.
Can metaphorically imply outperforming or surpassing in any competitive arena where a 'sale' or transactional success is analogous.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a direct comparison in a specific market or timeframe. Often used in business reporting, product launches, and competitive analysis.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The verb 'outsell' is used identically. Contextual usage may favour 'outsold' more in US business journalism.
Connotations
Neutral to positive; connotes commercial success and competitive advantage.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency; spikes in business/financial news cycles.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] outsold [Object] in [Market/Timeframe][Product A] outsold [Product B] by [Ratio/Number]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Product] flew off the shelves, outselling...”
- “The new release left its competitors in the dust, having outsold them...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Q4 reports showed the electric model outsold all petrol variants in the European market.
Academic
In the study of market dynamics, the pioneering brand consistently outsold later entrants.
Everyday
I heard the new video game outsold the previous one in its first week.
Technical
The algorithm predicts which SKU will likely outsell others based on seasonal trends.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The latest console outsold its rival by two to one over the Christmas period.
- Their biography of the monarch outsold all other political titles.
American English
- The pickup truck outsold every sedan model in the lineup last year.
- Her debut novel outsold all expectations in its first month.
adjective
British English
- The outsold competitor launched a aggressive new marketing campaign.
- They analysed data from the outsold model to inform the redesign.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The blue toy outsold the red one.
- The new phone was popular and outsold the old version.
- Despite a higher price, the premium model outsold the basic one in key urban markets.
- The independent film, buoyed by critical acclaim, remarkably outsold several big-budget studio releases during its limited run.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: OUT + SOLD = sold more, pushing others OUT of the top spot.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS A RACE (to outsell is to finish ahead in the sales race). COMMERCIAL SUCCESS IS DOMINANCE (the product that outsold others dominates the market).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as 'продал наружу'. The prefix 'out-' here means 'more/better than', not directional 'outside'. Think 'превзошёл по продажам'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'outsold' without a clear object of comparison (e.g., 'It outsold.' → 'It outsold its predecessor.'). Confusing with 'oversold' (sold too much/promised too much).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The sequel vastly outsold the original film,' what does 'outsold' imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily for products, services, or commercial entities like books, music, and tickets. Can be used metaphorically (e.g., 'His idea outsold all others in the meeting').
'Outsold' is past tense, describing a completed comparison. 'Outselling' is present participle, describing an ongoing or current comparison.
Not typically. It's a transitive verb with a direct object (the thing being outsold). You outsell *someone/something*.
Yes, the passive voice is common: 'The older model was outsold by the new release.'