- 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.
The country recorded a $116.6 billion current account surplus in the second quarter, surpassing the combined surpluses of manufacturing powerhouses Germany and Japan for the first time since comparable records began in 1996.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
But in terms of student achievement, Asian students have performed more like white students, frequently surpassing white students academically.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
This has led to steady gains in the SPY-to-DIA ratio in recent years, with the ratio even surpassing the highs seen during the dot-com period of the late 1990s.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 18, 2026
With both scientific instruments meeting or surpassing their expected performance, Roman has cleared another important milestone in its preparation for routine observations.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
“I am pleased to say that they are surpassing all expectations. Three more studious and dedicated pupils would be difficult to imagine.”
From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood
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