as in overtakes
to go or grow faster than (something)
Population growth has continued to outpace job growth for the last several decades. The demand for the product has outpaced the company's ability to produce it.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of outpaces
The country easily outpaces the rest of the developed world in gun deaths and overdoses, both major mortality drivers here that have largely been accepted as the cost of being American.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi’s popularity outpaces support for her party amid persistent economic pressures.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
More often than not, the hype outpaces the reality.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Whether silver outpaces gold in 2026 depends largely on how the competing forces outlined balance out.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
These partnerships ensure a steady flow of job-ready professionals in high-demand fields like engineering and healthcare technology, where demand for talent far outpaces supply.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
But the reality for many is that for many, the need for shelter greatly outpaces its availability.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
Transportation, defense, data centers keep Georgia ahead In Georgia, economic growth has slowed but the state still outpaces national trends and remains in the positive, according to Chatterjee.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The number of exits, which reportedly outpaces those of Democrats by a 2-to-1 ratio, is underscored by growing concerns that the Republican Party is on a path toward losing its majority in Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi’s popularity outpaces support for her party amid persistent economic pressures.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
More often than not, the hype outpaces the reality.
—Iman Balagam, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
The bottom line Whether silver outpaces gold in 2026 depends largely on how the competing forces outlined balance out.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
These partnerships ensure a steady flow of job-ready professionals in high-demand fields like engineering and healthcare technology, where demand for talent far outpaces supply.
—Mary Moreland, Fortune, 17 Jan. 2026
But the reality for many is that for many, the need for shelter greatly outpaces its availability.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
Transportation, defense, data centers keep Georgia ahead In Georgia, economic growth has slowed but the state still outpaces national trends and remains in the positive, according to Chatterjee.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The number of exits, which reportedly outpaces those of Democrats by a 2-to-1 ratio, is underscored by growing concerns that the Republican Party is on a path toward losing its majority in Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outpaces
Verb
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The show overtakes confrontation, less as a strategy than as a compromise no one remembers agreeing to.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That marks a record since the party's foundation in 1955 and surpasses the previous record of 300 seats won in 1986 by late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.—
MARI YAMAGUCHI,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
That marks a record since the party’s foundation in 1955 and surpasses the previous record of 300 seats won in 1986 by the party under late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike body composition metrics, BMI obscures the true extent of metabolic dysfunction and cannot distinguish between muscle and fat — or between superficial fat and the visceral fat that drives diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.—
Bret Scher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Some of what also drives Honnold is making the world a better place.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps that frustration was also informed by an awareness of some of Cale’s other work, which both outstrips The Unknown in some ways and gives the play an engaging metatextual sheen.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Federal and state laws set minimum numbers of spaces required for people with disabilities, but the need for the parking spots far outstrips the amount provided, according to Keller’s lawsuit.—
Dara Kam,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outpaces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outpaces. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
