- present participle of surpass.
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
His efforts kept India in contention long after they would have been expected to fall away, and in the 38th over his side reached 253-1, surpassing the 250 England had made at the same stage.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
The stakes are even bigger: who controls space and warfare, dominates the world economy and shapes the first technology with super-intelligence surpassing our species.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
On Wednesday, it celebrated surpassing that target, with $121 billion in pledges so far.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
There were women among them, dressed in gowns of surpassing loveliness.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
