surpass

verb

sur·​pass sər-ˈpas How to pronounce surpass (audio)
surpassed; surpassing; surpasses

transitive verb

1
: to become better, greater, or stronger than : exceed
surpassed her rivals
surpassed all expectations
2
: to go beyond : overstep
3
: to transcend the reach, capacity, or powers of
a beauty that surpasses description
surpassable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for surpass

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 surpass in a Sentence

Attendance is expected to surpass last year's record. Last quarter, sales surpassed two million. His work regularly surpasses all expectations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's slightly below Fried's deal, but Valdez will be the best lefty starter on the market, so someone will likely surpass that projection. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 From electric vehicles to industrial robotics and AI, Chinese companies have closed the gap with — and in some areas surpassed — Western competitors, fueled by state policy, subsidies, and ferocious domestic rivalry. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025 World leaders and scientists hoped to avoid surpassing this threshold under the Paris Agreement. John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025 This makes hearing loss the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia, surpassing smoking, hypertension, or physical inactivity. Joseph Coughlin, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for surpass

Word History

Etymology

Middle French surpasser, from sur- + passer to pass

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of surpass was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surpass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surpass. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

surpass

verb
sur·​pass sər-ˈpas How to pronounce surpass (audio)
1
: to be greater, better, or stronger than
2
: to go beyond the reach, powers, or capacity of
surpassable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on surpass

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