outsmart

/aut'smɑ:t/

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Word: Outsmart

Definition:
The verb "outsmart" means to defeat or gain an advantage over someone by being clever, using your intelligence, or skillfully planning. When you outsmart someone, you use your brain to outdo them.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Tense: The verb can be used in various tenses such as "outsmarted" (past tense) and "outsmarting" (present continuous).

Examples:

1. Simple: "She outsmarted her friends in the game by hiding in the best spot."
2. Past Tense: "He outsmarted the difficult puzzle and solved it quickly."
3. Continuous Tense: "They are outsmarting their competition with innovative ideas."

Advanced Usage:

In more complex situations, "outsmart" can refer to strategic thinking in business, politics, or any competitive scenario. For example: - "The company's new strategy helped them outsmart rival firms in the market."

Word Variants:

• Outsmarted (past tense): "He outsmarted the test by studying the right materials."
• Outsmarting (present participle): "She is outsmarting her opponents in the chess tournament."

Different Meanings:

While "outsmart" generally means to be cleverer than someone else, it can also imply tricking someone into making a mistake: - "He outsmarted the bully by pretending to be afraid."

Synonyms:

• Outwit: To be more clever than someone.
• Eclipse: To surpass or outdo someone.
• Outfox: To outsmart someone in a cunning way.
• Outmaneuver: To move skillfully to gain an advantage.

Idioms:

• "Think outside the box": To think creatively and come up with new ideas, which can lead to outsmarting others.
• "Playing chess, not checkers": This means thinking strategically and making clever moves, much like outsmarting someone.

Phrasal Verbs:

While "outsmart" does not have a direct phrasal verb equivalent, you can use "outdo" or "outplay" in similar contexts: - Outdo: "She always tries to outdo her classmates in academics." - Outplay: "The athlete outplayed his rivals with his exceptional skills."

Conclusion:

"Outsmart" is a useful word that captures the idea of using intelligence and cleverness to gain an advantage over others.

Academic

Verb

1. defeat by more skillful maneuvering
   • The English troops outmaneuvered the Germans
   • My new supervisor knows how to outmaneuver the boss in most situations
2. beat through cleverness and wit
   • I beat the traffic
   • She outfoxed her competitors

Synonyms

• outmaneuver
• outmanoeuvre
• outwit
• overreach
• outfox
• beat
• circumvent