outvote

Imagine a classroom deciding what movie to watch. If more students vote for a comedy than for a drama, they outvote those who wanted the drama. To outvote someone means to get more votes than they do in an election or in a group decision. It's about numbers: having enough support to win the vote. This usually happens in situations where people have voting power, like a parliament, a school board, or even a family deciding on dinner. You cannot outvote someone who does not get a vote at all; the word implies a contest in which the side with the higher count wins.

To outvote means to receive more votes than another person, group, or option in an election, poll, or other voting situation. It is the act of surpassing an opponent's support through a numerical advantage. This word is tied to situations where decisions are made by counting individual choices; it's not simply about being more popular in a general sense, but about getting a higher vote total in an official tally.

You might read that "The Senate Democrats outvoted Republicans on the new bill," meaning they had enough members present and voting in favor to pass the legislation despite opposition. Or perhaps, "The students outvoted the teachers on the dress code change," indicating the student body's preference prevailed because they had more people casting ballots.

Outvote often carries a subtle implication of power dynamics: it suggests that one side was able to impose its will over another through the democratic process. It is important to note that outvoting isn't necessarily about convincing your opponents that you are right, but simply about having more people on your side when the final count is made. Even if a specific proposal is controversial, a group can still outvote its opponents to ensure its preference becomes the final decision. When you hear the word outvote, think of ballots being counted, sides competing for support, and outcomes determined by who has the higher vote total.