surpassing
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of surpassing
Explanation
Something that's surpassing is exceptional or outstanding — much better or more than usual. A scene of surpassing hilarity in a movie might make you laugh until tears run down your face. The adjective surpassing is a bit old fashioned, and you're most likely to read it in a novel or poem. Its most common use is in the phrase "surpassing beauty," or exceptional beauty. A poet might reflect on the surpassing beauty of the sunset over the ocean, for example. To surpass is to "go beyond," from the prefix sur-, "beyond," and the Old French verb passer, "to go by."
Vocabulary lists containing surpassing
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.
Apple briefly hit $5 trillion in market cap on Tuesday, surpassing Nvidia as the most valuable company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
California’s high school Class of 2026 set a record by surpassing a 70% completion rate for financial aid applications, driven by a state mandate and school incentives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Rogers becomes the most expensive signing in Chelsea's history, surpassing the £107m spent on Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez in 2023.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Michigan has emerged as one of the hardest-hit states, with the number of cases surpassing 4,000 as of Thursday, according to its health department.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
This has been the pattern of his life: ludicrous dreams followed by hours and days and years of work and then a reality surpassing his wildest hopes and expectations.
From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers
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.
