outflank

verb

out·​flank ˌau̇t-ˈflaŋk How to pronounce outflank (audio)
outflanked; outflanking; outflanks

transitive verb

1
: to get around the flank of (an opposing force)
2

Examples of outflank in a Sentence

The army outflanked the enemy. trying to outflank the competition
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lee is outflanking Taylor in vote transfers from Webb and Tyron Jordan, the respective fifth- and third-place candidates. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025 For Iran, Hezbollah was supposed to be the cornerstone of its strategy to outflank superior adversaries, such as Israel, with armed proxies. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024 Russia is providing ever more political support to Haftar and could easily outflank Western policymakers by recognizing him and his allies in the House of Representatives as Libya’s legitimate government. Jason Pack, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2017 But days earlier, before flying into Washington, Mr. Altman was on the phone with Mr. Trump, preparing an announcement that would outflank Mr. Musk and put Mr. Altman’s company at the center of the new administration’s agenda for artificial intelligence. Cecilia Kang, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outflank

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outflank was in 1765

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outflank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outflank. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

outflank

verb
out·​flank (ˈ)au̇t-ˈflaŋk How to pronounce outflank (audio)
: to get around the side of (a military formation)
outflank the enemy

More from Merriam-Webster on outflank

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