Outclass

//aʊtˈklæs// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    to surpass something or somebody else, so as to appear to be in a higher class transitive

    "In the IQ test, he outclassed all the other applicants."

  2. 2
    cause to appear in a lower class wordnet

Example

More examples

"But perception isn’t reality. A key distinction lies in intent and origin. If these extraterrestrials present themselves as deities (like the Goa’uld in Stargate SG-1), they might exploit our awe for control. Alternatively, they could be benevolent, indifferent, or just curious—none of which inherently makes them gods. Philosophically, a god often implies worship-worthiness tied to ultimate power or moral perfection. An alien species might outclass us in tech—say, building Dyson Spheres or warping spacetime—but still be fallible, selfish, or mortal. Would we call a super-smart, super-strong human a god? Probably not, unless they transcend the natural order entirely."

Etymology

From out- + class.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.