To outrun means to run faster than someone or something else, leaving them behind. When a cheetah outruns a gazelle, it means the cheetah is running so fast that the gazelle can't keep up. In a race at recess, if you outrun your friend to the swings, you get there first because you were faster.

The word combines “out” (meaning beyond or better than) with “run,” but you can outrun things even when you're not literally running. A car might outrun a motorcycle on the highway. A rumor can outrun the truth when it spreads faster than people can correct it. A smart decision today can help you outrun problems tomorrow.

Sometimes people try to outrun things that can't actually be escaped, like trying to outrun your responsibilities or the consequences of a bad choice. You might get ahead temporarily, but eventually these things catch up. You can outrun another person in a sprint, but you can't outrun your own shadow or the need to face difficult situations honestly.