surpass
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
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to be greater than in degree, extent, etc
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to be superior to in achievement or excellence
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to overstep the limit or range of
the theory surpasses my comprehension
Synonym Usage
See excel.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have surpassedperfect
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has surpassedperfect 3rd person singular
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am surpassingprogressive 1st person singular
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are surpassingprogressive
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have been surpassingperfect progressive
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surpassingparticiple
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has been surpassingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is surpassingprogressive 3rd person singular
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surpassessingular 3rd person
Past
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had surpassedperfect
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was surpassingprogressive singular
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were surpassingprogressive plural
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had been surpassingperfect progressive
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surpassedparticiple
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surpassedsimple
Future
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.
Railroads were essential to the development of American industry — allowing the U.S. to surpass Europe about 130 years ago — by providing business access to markets and supplies.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Some forecasts suggest the forthcoming El Niño could equal past peaks - or even surpass them - although this is still uncertain.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Democratic consultant Michael Trujillo, who doesn’t represent anyone in the mayoral race, said the results suggest Raman will surpass Pratt as more votes are counted.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
That geopolitical imperative is extending to work toward the potential for autonomous AI systems that can surpass human capacities and intelligence, sometimes called superintelligence, artificial general intelligence or AGI.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
He soon realized that his fellow students had received better preparation for college, though he was determined to surpass them.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
