Synonyms

surpass

American

[ser-pas, -pahs] / sərˈpæs, -ˈpɑs /

verb (used with object)

to go beyond in amount, extent, or degree; be greater than; exceed.
to go beyond in excellence or achievement; be superior to; excel.

He surpassed his brother in sports.

Synonyms:

outstrip, beat
to be beyond the range or capacity of; transcend.

misery that surpasses description.

surpass British

/ sɜːˈpɑːs /

verb

to be greater than in degree, extent, etc
to be superior to in achievement or excellence
to overstep the limit or range of

the theory surpasses my comprehension

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See excel.

Other Word Forms

surpassable adjective
surpasser noun
unsurpassable adjective
unsurpassed adjective

Etymology

Origin of surpass

First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French surpasser; equivalent to sur- ¹ + pass

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If approved and launched by 2030, he thinks the drug’s sales as a first line treatment for acne could surpass a billion dollars.

From Barron's

The company anticipates sales of at least $12.3 billion for the current quarter, surpassing the $10.2 billion forecast by Wall Street analysts.

From MarketWatch

San Jose caught fire as the capital of Silicon Valley and grew to surpass San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal

With a GDP of around $1 trillion, Poland now has the 20th largest economy in the world, surpassing those of Sweden, Switzerland or Taiwan.

From Barron's

But when asked if that investment could surpass $100 billion, he suggested it wouldn’t be in that vicinity.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023