Dictionary

outthink en · VERB

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úd Proto-Germanic *ūt Proto-Germanic *ūt- Old English ūt- Middle English ut- English out- Proto-Indo-European *teng-der. Proto-Germanic *þankijaną Proto-West Germanic *þankijan Old English þenċan Middle English thinken English think English outthink From out- + think.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To best an opponent by thinking.
   • Microsoft has carefully cultivated an image of being an outfit that outthinks and outinnovates rivals. 2004 October 15, Charles Cooper, “Microsoft: The reality behind the image”, in CNET:
   • Argentina outfought and outthought France on a traumatic opening night for the host, winning more completely than the 17-12 scoreline suggested. 2010 November 19, Huw Richards, “France Confronts Its Rugby Fears With Argentina”, in The New York Times:
   • It is an example of what real entrepreneurship can do on the railway, but sadly there are not many other examples. Most of the private sector businesses in rail are simply 'gaming' the system, trying to outdo or outthink the regulator and the Government in order to generate profit. 2023 January 25, Christian Wolmar, “An informative cab ride on the state of the railway”, in RAIL, number 975, page 34:
   • Kasparov might be the world best chess-player, but Deep Blue clearly outthought him in this match.
   • Its “Dell model” became synonymous with efficiency, outsourcing and tight inventories, and was taught at the Harvard Business School and other top-notch management schools as a paragon of business smarts and outthinking the competition. 2010 June 28, Ashlee Vance, “Suit Over Faulty Computers Highlights Dell’s Decline”, in The New York Times:

Forms

Relateds

outsmart