---
title: outsmart — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «outsmart» in the school dictionary: To outsmart someone is to beat them by being cleverer or trickier. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# outsmart

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**Who acts:** little mouse, She, squirrel, Scammers, detective, Brer · **What happens:** outsmart, be, try, not share · **To what, where:** someone, fox, me, chess, bird feeder, people

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«outsmart» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [outsmart in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/outsmart.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To outsmart someone is to beat them by being cleverer or trickier.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:m1:1
# text = To outsmart someone is to beat them by being cleverer or trickier.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	outsmart	outsmart	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	beat	beat	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	cop	_	_
10	cleverer	clever	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	trickier	tricky	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot someone=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | beat *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **is** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | clever *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The little mouse outsmarted the fox in the deep dark wood.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x1:1
# text = The little mouse outsmarted the fox in the deep dark wood.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	outsmarted	outsmart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	fox	fox	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
9	deep	deep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
10	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	wood	wood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | past | the little mouse | the fox |  |  |  | in the deep dark wood | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Pivot fox=Theme in wood=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She outsmarted me at chess with a clever move.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x2:1
# text = She outsmarted me at chess with a clever move.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	outsmarted	outsmart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	obj	_	_
4	at	at	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	chess	chess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	clever	clever	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	move	move	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | past | She | me |  | chess |  | with a clever move | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot i=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The squirrel outsmarted our bird feeder.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x3:1
# text = The squirrel outsmarted our bird feeder.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	squirrel	squirrel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	outsmarted	outsmart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bird	bird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	feeder	feeder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | past | the squirrel | our bird feeder |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot feeder=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scammers try to outsmart people, so never share your password.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x4:1
# text = Scammers try to outsmart people, so never share your password.
1	Scammers	scammer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	try	try	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	outsmart	outsmart	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	password	password	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | present | Scammers |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **outsmart** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | Scammers *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot people=Theme |
| 3 | **not** **share** | infinitive | Scammers *not said here* | your password |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The detective outsmarted the thief.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x5:1
# text = The detective outsmarted the thief.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	detective	detective	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	outsmarted	outsmart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thief	thief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | past | the detective | the thief |  |  |  |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot thief=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Brer Rabbit outsmarted Brer Fox again.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:outsmart:x6:1
# text = Brer Rabbit outsmarted Brer Fox again.
1	Brer	Brer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	Rabbit	Rabbit	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	outsmarted	outsmart	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Brer	Brer	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	Fox	Fox	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	again	again	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **outsmart** | past | Brer | Brer Fox |  |  | again |  | vn exceed-90 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot fox=Theme |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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