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Glite Dictionary
to outshine each other

to outshine each other

5.3
To try to be better than each other to get attention
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : brillar más que los demás
  • In the talent show, the contestants sought to outshine each other by showcasing their unique skills.

Examples

  • During the competition, the two teams tried to outshine each other with their impressive performances.

  • At the party, the friends playfully tried to outshine each other with their extravagant outfits.

  • "What I liked about the group was that we did not attempt to 'outshine' each other because we saw the successes and failures as a group.

    Academic text (2004)

Synonyms

to compete
vsto outshine each other
983 2.6

Try to win against others who want the same thing

is similar but stresses trying to seem better and draw observers' attention
to get ahead
vsto outshine each other
83 3.4

Do better than others, for example at work or school

is about active attempts to seem better than peers, not only advancement
to outperform
vsto outshine each other
30 4.8

Do better than someone or something

adds a social aim of seeming better and drawing others' attention
to best
vsto outshine each other
23 4.2

To defeat someone in a contest or game

adds the idea of trying to seem superior and draw notice among others
to outdo
vsto outshine each other
22 3.8

Be better than someone at something

adds the element of trying to seem better especially to draw attention
to upstage
vsto outshine each other
22 6.5

Make people pay more attention to you than to someone else

involves mutual trying to perform or seem better and draw attention
to outshine
vsto outshine each other
15 4.8

Do better and get more attention than others

focuses on trying to seem better than others rather than only shining
to outplay
vsto outshine each other
14 4.2

Do better than and beat an opponent in a game

is about competing to seem better among several people rather than just beating one
to outmatch
vsto outshine each other
8 6.4

Do better than someone in skill or performance

highlights mutual efforts to appear better, often to attract attention
to outclass
vsto outshine each other
8 4.6

To be much better than someone or something

involves trying to outdo peers in a way that seeks attention
to outcompete
vsto outshine each other
2 6.1

To do better than someone or something and win

is more about attempting to seem superior to others, not only winning
to get one up on
vsto outshine each other
  • Informal
1 6.1

To have an advantage over someone in competition

is specifically about trying to seem better than others and attract attention
to outvie
vsto outshine each other
  • Archaic
9.9

To try to be better than someone in a contest or task

is about trying to seem better especially to attract attention
to outdazzle
vsto outshine each other
7.5

To impress people more than others

emphasizes active competition to seem better, not just dazzling effect
to outrival
vsto outshine each other
7.9

Be better than someone or something in a competition

stresses the attempt to seem better among peers rather than just success
to outstand
vsto outshine each other
7.6

To be better than others in skill or quality

focuses on mutual attempts to seem better, often for attention

Antonyms

to support each other
20 2.6

To help and encourage each other during difficult times

How Competitive

to upstage
22 6.5
to outshine each other
5.3
to compete
983 2.6
to rival
34 3.4

Surface Forms

outshine each other infinitive

Morphology

outshine + each + other

The verb 'outshine' (to shine/attract more attention than others) combined with the reciprocal phrase 'each other' yields a directly compositional meaning of mutual surpassing or trying to be better than one another. This verb + reciprocal pattern is common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Outshine each other paints a simple picture: imagine people under bright stage lights trying to outshine each other, each wanting to be the brightest so the audience looks at them. That's why it means 'to try to perform or seem better than the others', especially to get attention.