WordGarden.iooutpoint
Pronunciation
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Meanings
Verb
to defeat an opponent by scoring more points, especially in boxing
Beyond the definition
Imagine two skilled athletes in a close contest. If one manages to outpoint the other, they do not win with one huge moment. Instead, they collect more points over time and finish ahead. To outpoint someone usually means to beat them by scoring more points, often by a small margin and with steady, careful play. The word is especially common in sports like boxing, where a fighter can win on points without a knockout. By extension, it can also describe getting the better of someone through a series of small, effective moves.
The word outpoint has a more specific feel than simply "beat" or "defeat." It usually means to win by earning more points over the course of a contest. Rather than suggesting a crushing victory, it often points to a narrower win built on steady success, smart decisions, and repeated small advantages.
The term is especially at home in sports such as boxing and fencing. In those settings, to outpoint an opponent means to win because the score or the judges' decision favors you, not because you ended the contest suddenly with a knockout or some other decisive finish. This core idea also appears in other games and competitions. A team can outpoint another team by putting up more points on the board, even if the match stays close the whole time.
Sometimes, outpoint is also used in a broader, figurative way. In a discussion, debate, or rivalry, it can suggest winning through a series of stronger points or better moves rather than through force or one dramatic moment. In that sense, the word still keeps its sporting flavor: progress is made little by little, and the final win comes from being consistently better across the whole exchange.
Examples
- 1
Boxing match
The champion outpointed his opponent over twelve rounds.
- 2
Final bout
She was outpointed by a faster boxer in the final.
- 3
Points victory
He never came close to a knockout, but he boxed carefully and outpointed the younger fighter.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- outpointverb