outweigh

IELTS use

Useful in Speaking and Task 2 when weighing up pros and cons, comparing the strength of arguments, or explaining why one factor is more significant than another.

Examples

1. In my opinion, the advantages of public transport far outweigh its drawbacks in congested cities.
2. Although the initial cost is high, the long-term savings for schools would outweigh the expense.
3. Many experts believe that the risks of the new technology outweigh its potential benefits.
4. For me, the convenience of living in a city centre outweighs the higher rent.

Collocations

far outweigh

For most commuters, the time saved by flying far outweighs the extra cost.

outweigh the benefits

In some cases, the stress of a high salary may outweigh the benefits of the job.

outweigh the drawbacks

The health benefits of cycling usually outweigh the drawbacks of traffic exposure.

be outweighed by

The advantages of online learning were outweighed by the lack of personal contact for some students.

Word family

Verb

outweigh

Paraphrases

• be more significant than: A clear paraphrase when discussing importance or influence.
• be greater than: Useful for comparing size, amount, or degree.
• take precedence over: A more formal way to say that one thing is considered more important.
• tip the balance: An idiomatic expression for a factor that makes one option win.

Common mistakes

• The benefits outweigh than the costs. to The benefits outweigh the costs.. 'Outweigh' is a transitive verb, so it does not take 'than'.
• The costs are outweighed than the benefits. to The costs are outweighed by the benefits.. In the passive, use 'by' to show what causes the outweighing.
• This outweighs in importance. to This outweighs other factors in importance.. 'Outweigh' needs an object; it cannot be used without saying what it outweighs.
• The advantages overweigh the disadvantages. to The advantages outweigh the disadvantages.. 'Overweigh' is not standard in this context; the correct verb is 'outweigh'.