surplus 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of surplusnext
as in excess
being over what is needed surplus stock gets shipped to the warehouse and is eventually sold at auction

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surplus

2 of 2

noun

ˈsər-(ˌ)pləs How to pronounce surplus (audio)
as in overflow
the state or an instance of going beyond what is usual, proper, or needed we have a surplus of plastic knives, but we're short on forks and spoons for the picnic

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of surplus
Adjective
Highstock, a business-to-business marketplace that helps beauty brands sell surplus inventory to vetted business buyers, has raised a $30 million series A, led by venture capital firm a16z. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026 MedShare volunteer program manager Tonya Grant explains how surplus medical supplies are inspected, sorted and prepared for distribution inside the nonprofit's Decatur warehouse. — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
Noun
The great majority of the increase in the national debt since the last surplus, in 2001, has come from bipartisan legislation. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 23 Sep. 2026 Democrats framed their opposition around current budget woes, as the state surplus declines and lawmakers face difficult decisions about funding cuts. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surplus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
  1. excess
  2. overflow
  3. extra
  4. spare
Adjective
  • Economists and energy business experts say the oil companies would have to store the excess diesel for a while.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The project is interconnected with the Southern California Edison grid, meaning excess energy may be exported as well as allowing the parks to draw energy from the project when needed.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of excess
Noun
  • Your overflow of coffee table books,backup candles, and other living room miscellany can find a home in this sideboard that can anchor your entryway or moonlight as an entertainment console.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The restaurant was so popular that in 1955, Sewell opened a second location, Pizzeria Due, to handle the overflow.
    — Edward Robert McClelland, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of overflow
Adjective
  • The sink, for example, was part of an extra-long counter along one of the walls, offering plenty of extra room to stow my skincare and travel essentials.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • People don't want to go around changing their Clocks anymore and, besides, far and away, most people like having an hour of extra sunlight in the evening, rather than in the morning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • Rather than re-create New York, Hurwitz placed the dancers in a spare white studio, where light and shadow become something like scenery and his camera can move from overhead to eye level and back again.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With Israeli bans on importing fuel, engine oil, and spare parts, breakdowns often become indefinite.
    — Ghada Abdulfattah, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of spare

Browse Nearby Words

surpassingly
surplus
surplusage
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Cite this Entry

“Surplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/surplus. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on surplus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about surplus

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