1
a
: the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits : superfluity
b
: the amount or degree by which one thing or quantity exceeds another
an excess of 10 bushels
2
: undue or immoderate indulgence : intemperance
also
: an act or instance of intemperance
… prevent excesses and abuses by newly created local powers. —
Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker see also in excess of
: more than the usual, proper, or specified amount
excessed; excessing; excesses
: to eliminate the position of
excessed several teachers because of budget cutbacks
Examples of excess in a Sentence
Noun
They were equipped with an excess of provisions.
The tests found an excess of sodium in his blood.
He lived a life of excess.
The movie embraces all the worst excesses of popular American culture.
the violent excesses of the military regime
He apologized for his past excesses.
Adjective
Basketball provided an outlet for their excess energy.
She is trying to eliminate excess fat and calories from her diet.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025
Place 1/3 cup flour in a shallow dish; dredge chicken lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2025
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Overwatering Your Poinsettia Using pots without drainage holes force poinsettia roots to sit in excess water, which can lead to yellowing leaves, root rot, or even plant death.
—Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2025
Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for excess
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Noun
Amelia McIntyre, representative for the Plaza Westport Neighborhood Association, said the group is strongly supportive of the new owners and wants the Plaza to conform to the standards of quality development, but an excess of new high-rise buildings would not be good planning.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 5 Dec. 2025
Place 1/3 cup flour in a shallow dish; dredge chicken lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Fatty foods appear to push gut cells to overproduce serotonin, while simultaneously shutting down the system that normally clears out excess, the review found.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Overwatering Your Poinsettia Using pots without drainage holes force poinsettia roots to sit in excess water, which can lead to yellowing leaves, root rot, or even plant death.
—Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
Over the past few months my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for excess
Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excess. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
excess
2 of 2 adjective
: more than what is usual, acceptable, or needed
excess baggage
an outlet for their excess energy
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