exceed

verb

ex·​ceed ik-ˈsēd 

exceeded; exceeding; exceeds

transitive verb

1

: to be greater than or superior to

2

: to go beyond a limit set by

exceeded his authority

3

: to extend outside of

The river will exceed its banks by morning.

intransitive verb

1

: predominate

2

obsolete : overdo

Synonyms of exceed

• surpass

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

But the two have racked up an astronomical, nine-figure legal bill that far exceeds any reasonable amount the two may have needed for their defense, the bank said in a court filing late Friday. —Ken Sweet, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. —Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025

Their estimated album sales, including compilations and live records, exceed a billion units worldwide, according to record label EMI, stated. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Flyers can’t weigh more than the machine (245-pound limit), winds can’t exceed 30 mph and vehicles can’t quite soar to the clouds (150-foot altitude limit, although the scooter can rise to 10,000 feet or more). —J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Rhymes for exceed

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• flaxseed
• impede
• indeed

Kids Definition

exceed

verb

ex·​ceed ik-ˈsēd 

1

: to be greater than

the cost must not exceed ten dollars

2

: to go or be beyond the limit