Words Starting With OUT
100 wordsOUT- words form one of English's most productive prefixes, turning nearly any verb into its competitive opposite. This collection spans from the humble three-letter OUT to elaborate constructions like OUTLANDISHNESS, offering players and word lovers alike a rich territory of surpassing, exceeding, and besting.
3-letter words
15-letter words
26-letter words
157-letter words
238-letter words
309-letter words
1510-letter words
811-letter words
312-letter words
214-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The OUT- prefix creates natural compound words that reward strategic thinking. Understanding how these formations work gives you an edge in any word game.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The OUT- prefix attaches to verbs to mean 'surpass in' or 'exceed'—you can outrun, outthink, or outmaneuver someone. This productivity explains why OUT- words average 8.6 letters; most are compound formations rather than standalone roots. The prefix also creates spatial meanings (outside, outward) and completive senses (outspoken, outright), making it one of English's most versatile word-building tools.
Total Words
669
0.2% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.6 letters
2.5 syllables
Top Scrabble
OUTDAZZLE
28 points
Longest Word
OUTLANDISHNESS
14 letters
Parts of Speech
Verbs and nouns dominate this pattern nearly equally at 35% and 38% respectively, reflecting the dual nature of OUT- as both an action modifier and a result descriptor. The 22% adjective presence shows how readily these compounds shift into descriptive roles—something is not just outspoken but can be the outspoken one.
Middle English overwhelmingly shapes this prefix pattern, inheriting the Germanic out- construction that Old English established centuries earlier. The consistency here reflects how OUT- remained a productive native element rather than absorbing foreign influences. Unlike Latin-derived prefixes, OUT- stayed purely Germanic throughout its evolution.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
from one's possession
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
Short (2-4)
from one's possession
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
OUTJINX scores 21 in Scrabble but jumps to 25 in Words With Friends thanks to the boosted J value. Similarly, OUTJUMP climbs from 18 to 24 points between games. OUTDAZZLE tops both lists at 28 and 30 points respectively, making it the premium play regardless of platform. When you're holding a J, WWF rewards OUT- compounds more generously than Scrabble does.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
being on or toward the outside of the body
conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
OUTER delivers three vowels and the common consonants T and R, making it a solid opener for elimination. OUTRE, while less common, offers the same vowel coverage with an E in a different position for variation.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
The average 8.6-letter length reflects how OUT- rarely stands alone—it needs a base word to modify. Simple bases like OUT exist, but the prefix naturally gravitates toward verbs of substance.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
a building that is subordinate to and separate from a main building
the part of a rock formation that appears above the surface of the surrounding land
overcome or cause to waver or submit by (or as if by) staring
defeat by more skillful maneuvering
"The English troops outmaneuvered the Germans"
OUTFACE means to overcome someone by staring them down or causing them to waver through sheer presence. It's surprisingly valid in word games and captures that moment of winning a confrontation without speaking. The word rewards knowing that OUT- can attach to nearly any action verb.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.