OUTFLANK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does outflank mean? 

• OUTFLANK (verb)
  The verb OUTFLANK has 2 senses:

1. go around the flank of (an opposing army)

2. get the better of

  Familiarity information: OUTFLANK used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OUTFLANK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they outflank    ... he / she / it outflanks   
Past simple: outflanked   
Past participle: outflanked   
-ing form: outflanking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go around the flank of (an opposing army)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

go around; outflank

Hypernyms (to "outflank" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Get the better of

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

best; outdo; outflank; scoop; trump

Context example:

the goal was to best the competition

Hypernyms (to "outflank" is one way to...):

beat; beat out; crush; shell; trounce; vanquish (come out better in a competition, race, or conflict)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "outflank"):

outmaneuver; outmanoeuvre; outsmart (defeat by more skillful maneuvering)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to outflank his opponent

 Context examples 

The place was horribly haunted by clouds of mosquitoes and every form of flying pest, so we were glad to find solid ground again and to make a circuit among the trees, which enabled us to outflank this pestilent morass, which droned like an organ in the distance, so loud was it with insect life.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)