exceed

verb ex·ceed \ ik-ˈsēd \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: exceed in a Sentence

Definition of exceed

exceeded; exceeding; exceeds

transitive verb

1 : to extend outside of

the river will exceed its banks

2 : to be greater than or superior to

3 : to go beyond a limit set by

exceeded his authority

intransitive verb

1 obsolete : overdo

2 : predominate

See exceed defined for English-language learners

See exceed defined for kids

Examples of exceed in a Sentence

The cost must not exceed 10 dollars.
The cost exceeded our estimate.
The demand for new housing has already exceeded the supply.
He's trying to match or exceed last year's sales.

Recent Examples of exceed from the Web

Leno did not rule out a future run for office and thanked voters for exceeding low turnout expectations.

— janie har, The Christian Science Monitor, "First African-American woman mayor ready to lead San Francisco," 14 June 2018
The agency's independent review is not ready to say if that threshold will be exceeded, Bridenstine said.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "NASA’s Bridenstine signals reprieve for endangered climate missions," 6 June 2018
The number of pounds of black sea bass exceeding the legal limit that tourists landed during a recent fishing trip in Buzzards Bay.

— BostonGlobe.com, "By the numbers," 31 May 2018
Those issues were already impacting the Department of Defense, which identified more than 100 sites where contamination exceeded the EPA's limits.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "EPA boots reporters from meeting on chemicals called a PR disaster," 22 May 2018
That pension will exceed $100,000 per year for the rest of Peterson's life, Florida's Sun-Sentinel reported this week.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "Parkland deputy who did 'nothing' to stop shooter receives $100,000-per-year pension," 17 May 2018
The new safety system, called Positive Train Control, is designed to automatically stop a train if the engineer disobeys a signal or exceeds the speed limit.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Metra's adjusts new BNSF schedule, but still plans fewer express trains from Hinsdale, more from Western Springs and La Grange," 14 May 2018
That finding is also shared in the main by U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials, though the Trump administration argues Iran exceeded limits on heavy water production.

— Washington Post, "AP FACT CHECK: Trump vs. truth on the Iran nuclear deal," 10 May 2018
With prices and sale rates booming, local housing applications are exceeding processing limits, Business Insider reported.

— amy lieu, Fox News, "Housing market boom reported at North Korean border," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exceed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of exceed

Middle English exceden, from Middle French exceder, from Latin excedere, from ex- + cedere to go

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

exceed Synonyms

Synonyms

beat, better, eclipse, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, tower (over), transcend;

Near Antonyms

Related Words

outpace, outrun, overpass;

best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst;

outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trump;

Phrases

go one better, run circles around (or run rings around);

Synonym Discussion of exceed

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree. exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

- exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

- the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

- transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

- excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

- outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

- outstripped other firms in sales

EXCEED Defined for English Language Learners

exceed

verb

Definition of exceed for English Language Learners

: to be greater or more than (something) : to be better than (something)
: to go beyond the limit of (something)

EXCEED Defined for Kids

exceed

verb ex·ceed \ ik-ˈsēd \

Definition of exceed for Students

exceeded; exceeding

1 : to be greater than

The cost must not exceed 100 dollars.

2 : to go or be beyond the limit of

Don't exceed the speed limit.

Word Root of exceed

The Latin word cedere, meaning “to go,” gives us the root ced. Words from the Latin cedere have something to do with going. To precede is to go before. To exceed is to go beyond a limit. To proceed is to go forward. To recede is to go back or away.

Learn More about exceed

See words that rhyme with exceed Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exceed Spanish Central: Translation of exceed Nglish: Translation of exceed for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exceed for Arabic speakers

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