Outsize means unusually large, either in physical size or in importance and impact. An outsize teddy bear might be so enormous it barely fits through a doorway. An outsize personality belongs to someone whose energy and presence seem to fill an entire room.

The word often suggests something that exceeds normal proportions or expectations. A small action can have outsize consequences: imagine one student's kind gesture starting a chain reaction that changes the whole school's atmosphere. A short book can have an outsize influence on history, like Thomas Paine's pamphlet Common Sense, which helped spark the American Revolution despite being just 47 pages.

You'll also hear outsized, which means the same thing. Scientists might study why certain animals, like the extinct megalodon shark, grew to outsized proportions. A basketball coach might praise a player's outsized contribution to the team, meaning their impact was greater than their statistics suggest.

The word carries a sense of surprise or noteworthiness. When something is outsize, it stands out precisely because it's bigger, more important, or more influential than you'd normally expect.