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)
The Times Union (Albany, New York) 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Lightning, with the second-oldest average age of any team in the N.H.L., have relied on their experience to outplay opponents the last couple of years, but accruing all that experience may have taken a toll. New York Times, 20 June 2022 Back then, everyone in the NBA coveted a young, awe-inspiring Midshipman too tall for submarine duty but perfectly suited to outplay Patrick Ewing. Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 14 May 2022 The Nets were an underachieving team unable to outplay their dysfunction. oregonlive, 26 Apr. 2022 Kye Stokes took an unconventional route to build notoriety as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, putting himself in a position to drastically outplay his national rating. Stephen Means, cleveland, 8 Apr. 2022 With Moore's injury for Villanova and the emergence of Martin for the Jayhawks, that's a recipe for Kansas to outplay a Villanova squad that won't be at the top of its game and reach the program's first title game since 2012. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2022 Each entrepreneur is trying to outplay the competition to get as many clients as possible. Tyler Gallagher, Rolling Stone, 25 Feb. 2022 But Stokes could spend the spring surprising people and outplay his mid-300s ranking. Stephen Means, cleveland, 10 Jan. 2022 Joe Burrow will outplay Matthew Stafford in the Rams' house and the Bengals will get another clutch late field goal from Evan McPherson to win their first-ever Super Bowl in a thriller. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2022 See More
New York Times, 20 June 2022 Back then, everyone in the NBA coveted a young, awe-inspiring Midshipman too tall for submarine duty but perfectly suited to outplay Patrick Ewing. Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 14 May 2022 The Nets were an underachieving team unable to outplay their dysfunction. oregonlive, 26 Apr. 2022 Kye Stokes took an unconventional route to build notoriety as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, putting himself in a position to drastically outplay his national rating. Stephen Means, cleveland, 8 Apr. 2022 With Moore's injury for Villanova and the emergence of Martin for the Jayhawks, that's a recipe for Kansas to outplay a Villanova squad that won't be at the top of its game and reach the program's first title game since 2012. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2022 Each entrepreneur is trying to outplay the competition to get as many clients as possible. Tyler Gallagher, Rolling Stone, 25 Feb. 2022 But Stokes could spend the spring surprising people and outplay his mid-300s ranking. Stephen Means, cleveland, 10 Jan. 2022 Joe Burrow will outplay Matthew Stafford in the Rams' house and the Bengals will get another clutch late field goal from Evan McPherson to win their first-ever Super Bowl in a thriller. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1702, in the meaning defined above
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