surpass

verb

sur·​pass sər-ˈpas 

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

sər-ˈpa-sə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of surpass

• exceed

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

Trade between China and ASEAN surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in 2025, according to official statistics. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

Last month, Democracy Docket surpassed 500,000 free email subscribers, the company first told Semafor, including 70,000 subscribers paying $10 a month or $120 per year. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Iceman in particular stood out, breaking Drake’s previous record for longest run at the top of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, surpassing Take Care’s 12-week run. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2026

Downtown is currently tied for the most 100-degree-plus days in October with 1958 and 1971, but could surpass those years if the mercury hits 100 degrees Tuesday, according to the weather service. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French surpasser, from sur- + passer to pass

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for surpass

• alas
• amass
• bromegrass
• bypass
• crabgrass
• crevasse
• eelgrass
• eyeglass
• groundmass
• harass
• impasse
• jackass

Kids Definition

surpass

verb

sur·​pass sər-ˈpas 

1

: to be greater, better, or stronger than

2

: to go beyond the reach, powers, or capacity of

surpassable

-ə-bəl 

adjective