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edge out

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To just barely beat someone in a competition, or to slowly push someone out of a position.

Literal meaning: To move something out slowly along the edge — a very slight nudge outward.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To defeat a competitor or opponent by a very small margin.

"The home team edged out the visitors with a goal in the final minute of extra time."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To gradually replace or displace someone or something from a position.

"Streaming services have slowly edged out traditional video rental stores."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

To move slowly and carefully to the outside or away from a position.

"The nervous driver edged out into the busy road and waited for a gap in traffic."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common in sports reporting and business journalism. Often used to describe a narrow competitive victory or a gradual displacement of a product, person, or competitor. Works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Commonly used with

rival competitor opponent market candidate record

Forms

Base
edge out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
edges out
he/she/it
Past simple
edged out
yesterday
Past participle
edged out
have + pp
-ing form
edging out
continuous

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