outplay
verb
out·play
ˌau̇t-ˈplā 
outplayed; outplaying; outplays
: to play better than
especially
: to outdo in playing a game
The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter, but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win … —
The Times Union (Albany, New York)
The Times Union (Albany, New York) Examples of outplay in a Sentence
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Daigneault said Denver has outplayed his team for most of the series outside of two fourth-quarter stretches.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Before tonight, Boston had outplayed New York for the majority of this series: New York needed a pair of late miracles to pull out the two victories in Boston, and the Celtics crushed New York 115-93 in Saturday’s Game 3.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 13 May 2025
Barcelona reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in six years, despite being outplayed and comfortably beaten 3-1 by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Edwards essentially stole a contest in which the Wolves were largely outplayed with some sensational shot-making at the start of the fourth quarter to get the Wolves back into the game, then with prolific playmaking at the end to win it.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025
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Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Before tonight, Boston had outplayed New York for the majority of this series: New York needed a pair of late miracles to pull out the two victories in Boston, and the Celtics crushed New York 115-93 in Saturday’s Game 3.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 13 May 2025
Barcelona reached the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in six years, despite being outplayed and comfortably beaten 3-1 by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Edwards essentially stole a contest in which the Wolves were largely outplayed with some sensational shot-making at the start of the fourth quarter to get the Wolves back into the game, then with prolific playmaking at the end to win it.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for outplay
Cite this Entry
“Outplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outplay. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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