crowd out

/kraʊd aʊt/◆phrasal verb

to displace or prevent something by overwhelming competition

The new startup's low prices crowded out smaller competitors.

The new startup's low prices forced smaller competitors out of the market.

Finance

formal

To displace or prevent something by overwhelming competition, often in economic or market contexts.

Government bonds can crowd out private investment by absorbing available capital.

Government bonds can prevent private investment by taking up all available funding.

The influx of cheap imports crowded out domestic manufacturers.

The influx of cheap imports forced domestic manufacturers out of business.

Commonly used in economics to describe how one market participant displaces others due to competitive advantages.

Collocations

crowd out competitionto eliminate competitors through superior market presencecrowd out investmentto prevent investment in a particular sector

to force something into a limited space

This phrase is most commonly used in discussions about market competition, investment, and economic policy.

Use 'crowd out' specifically when referring to displacement due to competitive pressure, not general competition.

Derived from the literal meaning of 'crowd' (to push or press) combined with 'out' (to force out), metaphorically applied to economic competition.

Often used in financial and economic contexts to describe how one entity or strategy displaces others due to competitive pressure.

crowd

to press or push

root

out

to force out

particle

English Dictionary