surpass
Americanverb (used with object)
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
Related Words
See excel.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of surpass
First recorded in 1545–55; from Middle French surpasser; equivalent to sur- 1 + pass
Explanation
To surpass means to outdo someone or something, to go beyond what was expected. If you do better than you think you will, you will surpass your own expectations. Some words seem to exist just to give an extra oomph to your speech, and surpass is one of these. While you could just say passed or even outdid" saying surpass seems to indicate that a person (or some other thing that performs, like a company) has really gone beyond anything you anticipated. People tend to use this word a lot before the words expectations and predictions among others, because of course surpassing is all about "surpassing something."
Vocabulary lists containing surpass
Grade 9, List 2
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Trumps
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This Week In Words: March 29–April 4, 2020
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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.
The rocket-maker is seeking to raise $80 billion or more, which would make it the largest IPO on record and surpass Saudi Aramco, which raised $26 billion in its 2019 IPO.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
El Camino Real will be trying to surpass Chatsworth as an 11-time City championat 1 p.m.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
The U.S. is already on pace to surpass the record-breaking 48 outbreaks and 2,200 plus cases in all of 2025.
From Salon • May 20, 2026
Meanwhile, shortfalls in England's public water supply could surpass five billion litres per day without stronger action, linked to hot, dry summers and a growing population.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
He couldn’t turn to the anvil because there was no way to surpass his father’s talent.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
