outstay

verb

out·​stay ˌau̇t-ˈstā How to pronounce outstay (audio)
outstayed; outstaying; outstays

transitive verb

1
: overstay
outstayed their welcome
2
: to surpass in staying power
outstayed his competitors

Examples of outstay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Following a 2019 detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly outstaying his visa, the rapper is now able to travel internationally as a newly permanent citizen of the United States. Evan Minsker, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2023 Available in theaters and on myriad streaming platforms, the international assembly may be a hit-and-miss affair, but never outstays its welcome. Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Mar. 2023 So what to do with this holiday guest that has outstayed its welcome? Nicole Clausing, Sunset Magazine, 19 Jan. 2023 But unless the show can pull off an extreme pivot, it’s already outstayed its welcome. Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 25 Feb. 2023 At least for me, both the slow movement and the finale outstayed their welcome. Dallas News, 24 Feb. 2023 No one wants to outstay their welcome. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2022 The entries’ tones and narratives differ significantly, and never outstay their welcome. Eric Vilas-Boas and John Maher, Vulture, 21 Dec. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'outstay.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outstay was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near outstay

Cite this Entry

“Outstay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outstay. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

outstay

verb
out·​stay (ˈ)au̇t-ˈstā How to pronounce outstay (audio)
1
: to stay beyond or longer than
outstayed their welcome
2
: to be able to hold out longer than

More from Merriam-Webster on outstay

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