[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/outweigh/)

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# outweigh

verb (outweigh, outweighs, outweighed, outweighing)

«outweigh» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. If one thing outweighs another, it is more important or bigger in effect: «The good points outweigh the bad». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#m1)
2. To be heavier than something else. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#m2)

### In the lessons

In ethics, science and decision-making lessons, people weigh benefits against risks: the benefits of a vaccine outweigh the risks. In maths and science, one object can outweigh another on a balance. Phrases: «the benefits outweigh the risks», «the pros outweigh the cons», «far outweigh».

### Examples

- The fun of the trip outweighs the long drive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x1)
- The benefits of exercise far outweigh the effort. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x2)
- A full bag of sand outweighs a bag of feathers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x3)
- The doctor said the good of the medicine outweighs the side effects. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x4)
- My worries were outweighed by excitement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x5)
- Does the cost outweigh the benefit? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x6)
- The elephant outweighs every other land animal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x7)
- Then the king took some larger scales, and heaped up all his treasures on one side, but the silk on the other outweighed them all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb, past «outweighed». Spelling: out + weigh (with the silent «gh»). Not the same as «outnumber» (more in number). The thing that wins comes first: «A outweighs B» means A is bigger or more important.

## In Jewish tradition

Ecclesiastes says that a small bit of folly can spoil a lot of wisdom, as dead flies spoil perfume.

**Interpretation.** Tradition takes it as a warning that one small wrong deed can spoil a person's good name.

### Examples

- Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour. (Writings ECC.10.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/outweigh/#x1)

### Note

Regular verb, past «outweighed». Spelling: out + weigh (with the silent «gh»). Not the same as «outnumber» (more in number). The thing that wins comes first: «A outweighs B» means A is bigger or more important.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «outweigh» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/outweigh/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«outweigh» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/outweigh.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «outweigh» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/outweigh/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«outweigh» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/outweigh.html) on Mova free.