Words / C1

owt-WAY/ˌaʊtˈweɪ/

To outweigh is to be more important or beneficial than something else: the benefits outweigh the costs, outweighed by the risk. Outdo is perform better; weigh is measure mass. Do not use it for two numbers until you have said which scale (money, harm, time).

Meaning

To be more important or beneficial than something else.

Examples

• “The risk of a leak outweighed the convenience of a shared inbox.”
• “The leak risk outweighed the convenience of one shared inbox.”
• “Benefits outweigh costs is the set academic pairing. Outdo a rival is beat them. Weigh the sample is physical. Name the scale you are using.”

Good to know

Be more important than. Set pairing: benefits outweigh costs. Mix-ups: outdo (beat); weigh (mass). Say which scale (harm, money, time).

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