edge out

beat someone or something by a small amount

C1

What does "edge sb/sth out" mean?

To edge out a competitor means to beat them by only a very small margin — a fraction of a second, a handful of votes, or a single point. The phrase carries a strong implication of closeness: if the gap had been any wider, it would feel wrong to use it. It is most at home in sports commentary, political journalism, and business reporting, where the drama of a near thing needs to be conveyed efficiently. What makes it distinctive is precisely that sense of barely-achieved victory — the winner didn't dominate, they scraped through. Using it to describe a landslide win would sound odd, or at best ironic.

Examples

How to use it

edge out + competitor (noun)

The most common structure: the verb and particle stay together with the noun object following directly.

The incumbent edged out her challenger in one of the tightest elections the state had ever seen.

edge + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, separation is the natural and preferred form.

Both cyclists finished in under two hours, but Martinez edged him out by less than a second.

be edged out (by + competitor)

The passive is natural and widely used, especially when the focus is on the losing side rather than the winner.

The top seed was edged out by an unseeded qualifier in a stunning upset.

narrowly / just + edge out + competitor

Adverbs like 'narrowly' or 'just' are often added for emphasis, even though the narrowness is already implied by the verb.

The research team just edged out their rivals to secure the contract award.

edge out + competitor + by + margin

Specifying the margin of victory with 'by' is a very common extension of the pattern.

She edged out the defending champion by a single point to take the title.

Common Collocations

edge out a rivaledge out the championedge out the competitionedge out by a small marginnarrowly edge outedge out the incumbent

Common Mistakes

Using it with a large margin

'Edge out' only sounds natural when the gap is tiny. Using it for a decisive or comfortable win contradicts the meaning the phrase carries.

✗ They edged out their rivals 5–0 to win the championship.
✓ They edged out their rivals by a single goal to win the championship.
Separating with a long noun phrase

While separation is possible with short objects and pronouns, inserting a long or complex noun phrase between 'edge' and 'out' sounds unnatural and awkward.

✗ She edged the reigning world number one and defending tournament champion out.
✓ She edged out the reigning world number one and defending tournament champion.
Confusing the 'narrow defeat' sense with gradual displacement

'Edge out' can also describe slowly pushing someone out of a position over time (e.g. being edged out of a market), which is a different meaning. Make sure your context signals a single contest with a close result, not a prolonged process.

✗ The new technology edged out traditional suppliers in a single dramatic vote.
✓ The new technology gradually edged out traditional suppliers over the course of a decade.

Usage

This phrasal verb is mainly used in journalism and sports commentary rather than casual conversation. It appears in both British and American English with equal frequency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'edge out' in the present continuous — like 'is edging out'?

This is best avoided. Because 'edge out' describes a discrete competitive outcome — a result that happens at a specific moment — the continuous aspect feels unnatural. Stick to simple tenses: past simple for completed events, present simple for live commentary, and present perfect for recent results.

Is 'edge out' used equally in British and American English?

Yes, it's common in both varieties and appears equally in British and American sports reporting and political journalism. You don't need to worry about regional restrictions with this one.

Is 'edge out' too informal for professional or journalistic writing?

It's actually well suited to formal and semi-formal writing. You'll find it regularly in newspaper headlines, broadcast sports commentary, and political reporting. It would be unusual in academic writing, but in journalism and professional contexts it is entirely appropriate.

Does 'edge out' always involve two competitors, or can it describe beating a whole group?

It can describe beating a field of competitors as well as a single rival. Phrases like 'edged out the field' or 'edged out the competition' are natural when referring to winning a contest against multiple opponents, provided the margin of victory is still narrow.

Can 'edge out' be used without saying who was beaten?

Not comfortably — it needs an object to be meaningful. Because it is always transitive, dropping the competitor entirely leaves the sentence incomplete. If you don't want to name the losing party, the passive construction ('was edged out') lets you focus on them without naming the winner.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →