- (transitive) informal to get the better of; outwit
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
out•smart /ˌaʊtˈsmɑrt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to defeat or gain an advantage over (someone), as by being more clever or intelligent;
outwit.
- Idioms outsmart oneself, to defeat oneself through the same schemes one has planned to use for gain or profit.
out•smart
(out′smärt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
- to get the better of (someone);
outwit. - Idioms outsmart oneself, to defeat oneself unintentionally by overly elaborate intrigue, scheming, or the like:This time he may have outsmarted himself.
- out- + smart (adjective, adjectival) 1925–30
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
outsmart /ˌaʊtˈsmɑːt/ vb
'outsmart' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):