To outshine means to perform better than others or to be more impressive, talented, or noticeable.

In school, a student might outshine their classmates in a science fair by building an especially creative project. An actor in a play might outshine the rest of the cast with a particularly memorable performance. A basketball player might outshine everyone else in a game by scoring the most points and making difficult shots.

The word often suggests natural talent or exceptional effort. When someone outshines others, they stand out not by putting others down but by doing something genuinely impressive. A younger sibling might worry about being outshone by an older brother or sister who excels at everything, but everyone has their own chances to shine in different ways.

You can also use outshine for objects: a diamond might outshine other gemstones in a display case, or one student's Halloween costume might outshine all the others at the school party. The word captures that moment when something or someone is simply, noticeably better or more brilliant than what surrounds it.