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Synonyms

excess

American  
[ik-ses, ek-ses, ek-ses, ik-ses] / ɪkˈsɛs, ˈɛk sɛs, ˈɛk sɛs, ɪkˈsɛs /

noun

  1. the fact of exceeding exceeding something else in amount or degree.

    His strength is in excess of yours.

  2. the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another.

    The bill showed an excess of several hundred dollars over the estimate.

  3. an extreme or excessive amount or degree; superabundance.

    to have an excess of energy.
    Synonyms:
    surplus
    Antonyms:
    deficiency, lack

  4. a going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper.

    to talk to excess.

  5. immoderate indulgence; intemperance in eating, drinking, etc.

adjective

  1. more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified; extra.

    a charge for excess baggage; excess profits.

verb (used with object)

  1. to dismiss, demote, transfer, or furlough (an employee), especially as part of a mass layoff.

excess British  

noun

  1. the state or act of going beyond normal, sufficient, or permitted limits

  2. an immoderate or abnormal amount, number, extent, or degree too much or too many

    an excess of tolerance

  3. the amount, number, extent, or degree by which one thing exceeds another

  4. chem a quantity of a reagent that is greater than the quantity required to complete a reaction

    add an excess of acid

  5. overindulgence or intemperance

  6. insurance a specified contribution towards the cost of a claim, stipulated on certain insurance policies as being payable by the policyholder

  7. of more than; over

  8. to an inordinate extent; immoderately

    he drinks to excess
"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

adjective

  1. more than normal, necessary, or permitted; surplus

    excess weight

  2. payable as a result of previous underpayment

    excess postage

    an excess fare for a railway journey
"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
excess Idioms  

  1. see carry too far (to excess); in excess of.

Etymology

Origin of excess

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun and adjective), from Latin excessus “departure, digression,” noun use of past participle of excēdere “to go out”; exceed

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.