outplay

verb

out·​play ˌau̇t-ˈplā 

outplayed; outplaying; outplays

transitive verb

: to play better than

especially : to outdo in playing a game

The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter, but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win …

—The Times Union (Albany, New York)

Examples of outplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Divided into three tribes, the castaways must outwit and outplay one another until the final competitor is crowned the Sole Survivor and wins the $1 million prize. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

To kick off the reality competition show's season 48, out on Feb. 26, here are the best Survivor seasons that outwit, outlast and outplay the rest. —Skyler Trepel, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025

The same conversation applies to Hendrickson, who openly asked for a resolution sooner rather than later entering the final year of a contract he’s outplayed in Cincinnati. —Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

Utah took advantage of the Lakers’ minimal rim protection to abuse them in the paint (outscoring them 54-36 there), but also outplayed them in the open court (outscoring them 26-13 in fast-break points) while the visitors missed nearly half of their free-throw attempts (17 of 30). —Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for outplay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

outplay

verb

out·​play

(ˈ)au̇t-ˈplā

: to play better than