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Synonyms

surpassing

American  
[ser-pas-ing, -pah-sing] / sərˈpæs ɪŋ, -ˈpɑ sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. of a large amount or high degree; exceeding, excelling, or extraordinary.

    structures of surpassing magnificence.

adverb

  1. in a surpassing manner; extraordinarily.

surpassing British  
/ sɜːˈpɑːsɪŋ /

adjective

  1. exceptional; extraordinary

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. obsolete (intensifier)

    surpassing fair
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • surpassingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of surpassing

First recorded in 1570–80; surpass + -ing 2

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.

Consumer sentiment actually rose slightly in March, according to data released Tuesday by the Conference Board; the index climbed to 91.8 from 91 in February, surpassing Wall Street Journal forecasts of 87.5.

From MarketWatch

On Sunday, the shutdown reached 44 days, surpassing the previous longest funding lapse, which ended in November 2025.

From BBC

Wall Street has seen the rise of prediction markets as a major threat to sportsbooks’ market share, as Kalshi reported surpassing $1 billion in trading volume last month, boosted substantially by sports wagering.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was 97 degrees in Camarillo on Tuesday, surpassing the daily temperature record by a whopping 11 degrees and the all-time March record by 3 degrees.

From Los Angeles Times

Liverpool have now conceded eight Premier League goals in the 90th minute or later this season - their most in a single campaign, surpassing seven in 2010-11.

From BBC

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.