outnumber

outnumber — verb

1. to have a higher count than another group, person, or thing

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to have a higher count than another group, person, or thing

Example

Women now outnumber men in the medical school by two to one.

outnumber + object + ratio

During summer, tourists outnumber local people in the small harbor town.

Common collocations
  • outnumber men
  • outnumber local people
  • outnumber dogs
  • outnumber by two to one
  • greatly outnumber
Synonyms
  • exceed

    is more formal and can compare amounts, limits, or levels, not only countable groups

  • surpass

    is broader and often compares quality, level, or achievement rather than simple numbers

  • overwhelm

    suggests being much more numerous and often causing pressure or defeat

Antonyms
  • trail

    is often used in sports, elections, or score-like counts when one side has fewer

  • be fewer than

    is the plain descriptive opposite in number comparisons

Grammar Patterns

A outnumbers B

A outnumbers B by + amount

A outnumbers B two to one

Usage Note

Subject and object are usually countable groups such as people, animals, votes, or orders. Often followed by a by-phrase or ratio to show the size of the difference.

Common Mistakes

Women outnumber than men in this club.
Women outnumber men in this club.
outnumber takes a direct object, not 'than'.
Tourists outnumber in August.
Tourists outnumber local people in August.
name the smaller group after the verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Outnumber is the clearest choice when the comparison is about how many people, animals, or things there are. Exceed is more formal and wider in use: numbers, limits, and expectations can all exceed something. Surpass is also broader and often talks about quality, level, or performance rather than head count. Overwhelm suggests a much larger number and often adds the idea that the smaller side cannot cope well. Use outnumber when a countable group is the focus: 'Tourists outnumber locals in July.' Use exceed for totals or limits: 'Costs exceeded the budget.' Use overwhelm when the larger number creates pressure: 'Fans overwhelmed the station entrance.'

exceed ↗surpass ↗overwhelm ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • greatly outnumber
  • far outnumber
  • slightly outnumber

Phrases

  • outnumber another group by 300
  • outnumber another group two to one

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Outnumber was formed in English by adding the prefix out- to number. The prefix gives the idea of going beyond another amount, so the verb came to mean having a larger count than someone or something else.