There are many words in English beginning with out-. In words such as outbuilding, outcast, outpour, and outstanding, out- has the same meaning as the adverb out. So an outcast is “one who is cast out,” and one who is outstanding “stands out.” But in other cases out- takes on the sense of doing better, being greater, or going beyond, as in outdo, outnumber, and outrun. Although out- can attach to nouns, adjectives, or verbs to form other nouns, adjectives, or verbs, it most frequently attaches to verbs: outbowl, outcook, outride, outsing.
