What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
outplayed
Example
The home team was outplayed by the visiting team in the championship game. [outplayed: verb]
Example
The chess master outplayed his opponent with a clever strategy. [outplayed: past tense]
outperform
Example
The new employee outperformed her colleagues in sales this quarter. [outperformed: verb]
Example
The athlete outperformed his personal best record in the long jump. [outperformed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Outperform is more commonly used than outplayed in everyday language. Outperform is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while outplayed is less common and refers specifically to a situation where one team or player has performed better than the other in a game or sport.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between outplayed and outperform?
Both outplayed and outperform are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
