surpass

[ser-pas, -pahs]

verb (used with object)

1. to go beyond in amount, extent, or degree; be greater than; exceed.

2. to go beyond in excellence or achievement; be superior to; excel.

   He surpassed his brother in sports.

   Synonyms: outstrip, beat

3. to be beyond the range or capacity of; transcend.

   misery that surpasses description.

surpass

/ sɜːˈpɑːs /

verb

1. to be greater than in degree, extent, etc

2. to be superior to in achievement or excellence

3. to overstep the limit or range of

   the theory surpasses my comprehension

Other Word Forms

• surpassable adjective
• surpasser noun
• unsurpassable adjective
• unsurpassed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surpass¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of surpass¹

C16: from French surpasser, from _sur- ¹ + passer to _pass

Synonym Study

See excel.

Example Sentences

When a jet surpasses the speed of sound, it produces a shock wave in the air.

Read more on Science Daily

No matter what happens this awards season, Kang says their expectations for the film have already been more than surpassed.

Read more on BBC

“The megacap strength was evident in rising market concentration, with the top 10 stocks surpassing 40% of S&P 500 market cap for the first time since at least 1972,” they wrote.

Read more on MarketWatch

A day earlier, the precious metal surpassed $4,000 a troy ounce, a sign investors are rushing to alternative assets in the midst of concern regarding the U.S. economy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We have not let ourselves as a culture accept the fact that chosen family is family and in many cases it surpasses birth family.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• beat 
• eclipse 
• exceed 
• outpace 
• outperform 
• outstrip 
• outweigh 
• pass 
• rank 
• top