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
According to Weiss Ratings, an independent financial research company, surplus lines carriers now account for 7% of the California home insurance market, up from 1% in 2021. — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026 That experience led to me founding a global nonprofit and two for-profit social enterprise brands that turn surplus items into an opportunity in low- and middle-income nations. — Wayne Elsey, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
Using aggressive budget caps that force huge surpluses, the governor has used $11 billion since 2020 to shrink pension debt. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026 Trump says the Biden administration set those fees higher than necessary and built up a surplus, and the White House is framing the checks as a return of that excess. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for surplus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for surplus
  1. excess
  2. overflow
  3. extra
  4. spare
Adjective
  • On-site solar panels capture renewable energy during daylight, while high-capacity batteries store excess power for later use.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The new definition, developed by an international panel of medical experts convened by the medical journal The Lancet, requires evidence of both excess body fat and related health problems or limitations in daily activities.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of excess
Noun
  • The combined sewage-overflow tanks that are supposed to divert sewage from running into the canal won’t be complete until 2029 — a seven-year delay that might require parts of the canal to be re-dredged again to remove the contamination.
    — Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
  • These tunnels will be designed to capture that overflow and serve as massive holding tanks, with the wastewater gradually being treated at ALCOSAN's treatment plant as capacity becomes available.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of overflow
Adjective
  • High-income investors can get extra bang for their buck from buying tax-exempt municipal bonds or using the selloff to harvest tax losses and reinvest in better-yielding debt, according to Jason Katz of UBS.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The House Democrats’ campaign arm is now plowing extra resources into the gerrymandered seat in Tennessee.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of extra
Adjective
  • France's education ministry is in the process of urgently contacting around 3,000 spare teachers who could be sent to schools with the most pressing needs, often located in low-income areas, said Education Minister Edouard Geffray.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As for the kits, each weighed between 121 pounds (55 kg) and 143 pounds (65 kg) and contained tools, spare parts, and other materials for specific tasks.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on surplus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about surplus

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