outnumber

Everyday

To outnumber means to be more in number. If girls outnumber boys, there are more girls than boys. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a comparison: one group is bigger than another, often by a given amount (outnumber by 4) or by a ratio (outnumber 3 to 1); bigger = smaller + difference. In stories and history: the army was outnumbered but still won. Phrases: outnumber by, outnumber … to …, be outnumbered.

Examples

• Girls outnumber boys by 4 in the class. tree →
• Cats outnumber dogs 3 to 1. tree →
• If there are 12 boys and girls outnumber them by 5, how many girls? tree →
• The red cars outnumber the blue ones. tree →
• In our town, bikes outnumber cars. tree →
• The small team was outnumbered but did not give up. tree →
• Ants outnumber people by far. tree →
• At the party adults were outnumbered by children. tree →
• Jupiter, seeing that Mankind, the only rational creatures, were far outnumbered by the irrational beasts, bade him redress the balance by turning some of the latter into men. tree →

Note

«Out-» means more than, as in outrun, outgrow. Compares two groups: bigger = smaller + difference. Trap: «outnumber 3 to 1» means 3 times as many, not 3 more. Trap: «A outnumber B» means A is the bigger group.