WordGarden.iooutscore
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /aʊtskˈɔː/
US
- /aʊtˈskɔr/
Meanings
Verb
to get more points or a higher score than an opponent or rival
Beyond the definition
Imagine two rival basketball teams battling on the court. To outscore your opponent means to finish the game with more points than they have. You do not just win; you win by putting more points on the board.
You can outscore someone in any contest where points, marks, or numbers are counted. A student might outscore classmates on a test, and one team might outscore another over a whole season. It is used most often in sports, but it can also be used in other situations where results are compared by number.
To outscore someone means to get a higher score than they do in a game, contest, or any other situation where points or marks are counted. It does not simply mean winning in a general sense. It means winning because your total score is higher.
The word is most common in sports. You might say, "The Lakers outscored the Celtics by ten points in the final quarter," or "Our team was outscored in the second half." It can also appear outside sports when people compare test scores, rankings, or other measured results. In all of these cases, the idea is the same: one person or group ends up with a bigger number.
The verb emphasizes direct comparison. If one side outscores another, both sides have scores, and one finishes above the other. Because of that, the word fits best in situations where the numbers are clear and easy to compare.
Think of it as a simple picture: two sides are competing, both are adding up points, and one ends with more. That is the heart of outscore.
Examples
- 1
Final game
The Lions outscored the Tigers 3-1 in the final game.
- 2
School quiz
Maya outscored everyone in her class on the science quiz.
- 3
Score margin
The visitors outscored us by twelve points in the fourth quarter.
- Patternoutscore someone by + number
score that many more than them
- 4
Player absence
Boston was outscored 18-4 after its best player left the game.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Season totals
Over the full season, the rookie outscored several experienced forwards.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- outscoreverb