outbidden

outbidden

A collector outbidden his rival at the auction.

Definition
  1. Verb (past tense of "outbid"):
    • To have offered a higher price than someone else: "outbidden" means that someone has made a bid or offer that exceeds another person's bid, especially in an auction or competitive situation.
    • To have surpassed in promise or exaggeration: In a figurative sense, it can mean to have exceeded someone in making claims, promises, or exaggerations.
Usage Examples
  • Auction context:
    • She outbidden every other collector at the art auction, securing the painting for a record price. (She made a higher offer than all other bidders.)
  • Figurative context:
    • In the debate, his outrageous claims outbidden those of his opponent, though none were true. (His exaggerations surpassed those of the other person.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to have outbidden oneself": to have exceeded one's own previous best effort or bid.
    • The company outbidden its own earlier offer to win the contract. (The company made a higher bid than its previous one.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Outbid (verb, present tense): to offer a higher price than.
    • I will outbid anyone who tries to buy this antique vase. (I will offer more money than any competitor.)
  • Outbidding (present participle): the act of offering a higher price.
    • Outbidding is common in competitive auctions. (The practice of making higher offers is frequent.)
  • Outbidder (noun): a person who makes a higher bid.
    • The outbidder won the rare coin. (The person who offered more money succeeded.)
Synonyms
  • Surpass: to exceed or go beyond.
  • Overbid: to bid more than someone else (often used in card games or auctions).
  • Outdo: to perform better than someone else.
Related Idioms
  • "to bid one up": to increase a bid gradually, often in competition.
    • The auctioneer kept bidding them up until the final price was reached. (The auctioneer encouraged higher and higher offers.)
  • "to win by a bid": to succeed in an auction by offering the highest price.
    • He won the painting by a bid of $10,000. (He obtained the painting because his offer was the highest.)