Outplays

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To perform more effectively than an opponent through superior skill or strategy in a competitive situation
2. To exceed the abilities of an adversary in terms of skillful execution or tactical maneuvering in a contest
3. To demonstrate greater skill or strategy than a competitor during an event

Etymology: "Outplays" is the third-person singular present form of "outplay", a verb built from the prefix "out-" and the familiar verb "play". The prefix comes from Old English "ūt", meaning "outside" or "away from", so the compound literally means to play beyond or better than someone else. Its pieces are old: "play" descends from Old English "plegian", which carried the sense of exercising or sporting, and the same root lies behind the modern sense of playing a game or a musical instrument. The compound is simple and transparent in origin: a native English prefix attached to a native English verb, with no Latin or French detour. Its competitive sense grows naturally from "out-" as in "outrun", "outwit" and "outdo", where the prefix marks surpassing another party. The meaning of "outplay" therefore follows that pattern, applied to contests and games where one side performs better than its rival.

Synonyms: surpasses, outshines, outperforms, beats, excels

Antonyms: fails, loses, underperforms, flops, falls short