outdress

English

Etymology

From out- +‎ dress.

Verb

outdress (third-person singular simple present outdresses, present participle outdressing, simple past and past participle outdressed)

1. (transitive) To dress better than.
   • 1895 November 30, Peggy, “Woman’s Column”, in The Freeman’s Journal, volume XLVI, number 2699, Sydney, N.S.W., page 9, column 2:

     Our new Governor’s daughter wore a simple gown of rich white satin. It is consoling to know that the new Governoress and her daughters don’t show symptoms of rushing us into unlimited extravagance in our efforts to keep pace with their millinery, and in this they earn the gratitude of every sensible woman who sees something more in daily life than a mad endeavour to outdress her neighbour.

   • 2009 March 8, Maura Egan, “Con Artist”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     “Martin dressed in head-to-toe Burberry and made fun of everyone else who tried to outdress him.

Anagrams

• Stouders, dress out, dress-out