outbid
UK[ˌaʊtˈbɪd]US[ˌaʊtˈbɪd]
v
to offer to pay a higher price than someone else, especially at an auction.
v
to offer to do work or provide a service for less money than a competitor.
Morpheme Breakdown
out
bid
out
beyond, more than, to a greater extent
bid
to offer a price, to command
Etymology
the word 'outbid' is a transparent compound formed within english from the native elements 'out' and 'bid'. the prefix 'out-' carries its core sense of surpassing or exceeding, while 'bid' retains its original meaning related to offering a price, as seen in auctions. this construction follows a common pattern in english where 'out-' is prefixed to verbs to indicate doing something to a greater degree or better than another (e.g., outrun, outlast). the logic is directly literal: to 'outbid' is to 'bid beyond' or 'offer more than' a rival, a concept that has remained consistent from its formation to its modern commercial and competitive contexts.
Analysis
Structure: out + bid
out (old english, prefix meaning 'beyond, more than, to a greater extent'); bid (old english, verb meaning 'to offer a price, to command').
Examples
she was determined to win the antique vase and managed to outbid everyone else in the room.
several construction firms tried to outbid each other for the lucrative government contract.
he regretted not outbidding his opponent when the painting later sold for ten times its auction price.