WordGarden.iooutsmart
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /aʊtsmˈɑːt/
US
- /ˈaʊtsˌmɑrt/
Meanings
Verb
to gain an advantage over someone by being more clever than them
Beyond the definition
To outsmart someone means to beat them by thinking better or planning better, often by staying one step ahead. It is not about force or physical strength; it is about winning with your mind. Imagine playing hide-and-seek: you outsmart the seeker by hiding in the one place they would never think to look. You might try to outsmart a sibling during a board game, or a detective might outsmart a criminal to solve a hard case. It suggests clever thinking and, at times, a bit of playful trickery.
"Outsmart" describes the act of surpassing someone in ingenuity or cleverness to gain an advantage. It is more than just being intelligent; it is about applying your smarts to navigate a situation more effectively than your opponent.
The word suggests a mental contest where sharp thinking is the primary weapon. You might outsmart a competitor in business by launching a brilliant marketing strategy they didn't see coming, or outsmart a friend during a game of chess by baiting them into a trap. It doesn't necessarily imply malice; in many contexts, it represents admirable resourcefulness. For instance, in many fables, a clever fox outsmarts a stronger animal to escape a predicament, demonstrating that wit can overcome power.
However, "outsmart" can also carry a negative connotation if the cleverness is used for dishonest purposes. While a savvy negotiator might outsmart an opponent to reach a favorable deal, a scammer also uses their intelligence to outsmart others with harmful intentions.
Ultimately, the key element of "outsmart" is the use of intellect and strategy to overcome a challenge. It is the art of winning not by being the strongest, but by being the most mentally agile.
Examples
- 1
Sneaking past
The children outsmarted the guard and slipped through the side gate.
- 2
Strategic bidding
She outsmarted her opponent by waiting until the last minute to bid.
- 3
Business competition
The company tried to outsmart its rivals with a cheaper, simpler product.
- 4
Rules and systems
Don't try to outsmart the system; just follow the application steps.
- Phraseoutsmart the system
find a clever way around its rules
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Overthinking
He outsmarted himself by making the plan too complicated.
- Phraseoutsmart yourself
make a problem worse by trying to be too clever
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- outmaneuver
- trick
- outthink
Contrast
- be fooled
- fall for
Used with (collocations)
- outsmart an opponent
- outsmart the system
- try to outsmart someone
- outsmart yourself
Word family
Explore
- cunning
- tactical advantage
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- outsmartverb
Forms
- outsmartedpast tenseverb
- outsmarting-ing formverb
- outsmartsverb