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

intransitive verb

1

: predominate

2

obsolete : overdo

Synonyms

• 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

Nominate it as one of America's Top Workplaces In the Cato survey, released August 7, only 9% of Americans correctly identified the maximum annual Social Security benefit, which exceeds $60,000, on a multiple-choice list. —Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025

Iceland, like Nashville, is experiencing a tourism boom, with visitor numbers exceeding the local population. —Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Excluding Cornell, who held the often-problematic dual title of board chair and CEO, the average age exceeds 66 years. —Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

With one of the better traveling fan bases and a home attendance that has exceeded 50,000 in 85 consecutive games, Iowa State was a natural target for game organizers. —Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 20 Aug. 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