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
: 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
Cameron Esposito, Glamour, 12 May 2025
Amid low hope for progress, one positive outcome for financial markets in talks would be an agreement to bring down tariffs from an excess of 100 percent to levels allowing products to flow each way, Reuters reported.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Diet and dental hygiene Cavities are mainly caused by eating excess sugar and refined carbohydrates.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 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
Mania, the one side of its polarity, wants novelty, power, movement, excess.
—Cameron Esposito, Glamour, 12 May 2025
Amid low hope for progress, one positive outcome for financial markets in talks would be an agreement to bring down tariffs from an excess of 100 percent to levels allowing products to flow each way, Reuters reported.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Adjective
If the problems persist, consider investing in a dehumidifier to pull excess moisture out of the air.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025
Diet and dental hygiene Cavities are mainly caused by eating excess sugar and refined carbohydrates.
—Matt Fuchs, Time, 14 May 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 25 May. 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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