Definition

1. Verb (past tense of ):
   • To run faster than: "outran" means to have moved on foot at a speed exceeding that of another person, animal, or object.
   • To escape by running: It can also mean to have evaded or gotten away from someone or something by running faster.
   • To exceed or surpass: In a figurative sense, "outran" means to have gone beyond a limit, expectation, or boundary.

Usage Examples

• Physical running:

  • The cheetah outran the gazelle in the chase. (The cheetah ran faster than the gazelle.)
  • She outran all her competitors in the 100-meter dash. (She ran faster than every other runner.)

• Escape:

  • The thief outran the police by cutting through an alley. (The thief escaped the police by running faster.)

• Figurative surpassing:

  • His ambition outran his ability to achieve it. (His ambition exceeded what he could realistically accomplish.)
  • The project's costs outran the initial budget estimates. (The costs went beyond the budget limits.)

Advanced Usage

• "to outrun the clock": to complete a task or reach a goal before time runs out.

  • The team outran the clock to score the winning goal. (They scored just before the game ended.)

• "to outrun one's past": to escape or move beyond negative experiences or reputation.

  • He tried to outrun his criminal record by moving to a new city. (He attempted to leave his past behind.)

Variants and Related Words

• Outrun (verb, base form): to run faster than.

  • She can outrun most people in her age group. (She is faster than most.)

• Outruns (verb, third person singular present): runs faster than.

  • This model of car outruns all others in its class. (It is faster.)

• Outrunning (verb, present participle): currently running faster than.

  • He is outrunning the bear in the forest. (He is escaping the bear by running.)

Synonyms

• Overtake: to catch up with and pass while moving.

  • The sprinter overtook the leader in the final seconds. (She passed the leader by running faster.)

• Surpass: to exceed or go beyond (often used figuratively).

  • Her achievements surpass those of her predecessors. (Her successes are greater.)

• Elude: to escape from or avoid (especially by speed or cleverness).

  • The fox eluded the hunters by darting into the woods. (It escaped by running quickly.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Outrun from: to escape a place or situation by running.
  • He outran from the burning building before it collapsed. (He escaped by running quickly.)

Related Idioms

• Outrun your luck: to rely on good fortune beyond reasonable limits, often leading to failure.

  • He gambled heavily, thinking he could outrun his luck. (He believed his good fortune would continue, but it did not.)

• Outrun the law: to evade legal consequences or authorities.

  • The fugitive tried to outrun the law, but was eventually caught. (He attempted to avoid capture by the police.)