surpass

verb

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

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 How to pronounce surpass (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of surpass

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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.
The raise comes as the company surpasses $200 million in net revenue, grew over 50% year-over-year, and turned profitable. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 July 2026 Under French law, shareholders surpassing a 30% ownership threshold must launch a buyout offer. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 July 2026 That’s the quickest any center back has been a part of five World Cup clean sheets, surpassing the record of seven by Italian legend Paolo Maldini. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026 Instead, the proceedings were over in less than 40 minutes in a courtroom without air conditioning, on a day when Paris temperatures surpassed 86 degrees. — Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 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

Rhymes for surpass

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Browse Nearby Words

surnominal
surpass
surpasser
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Cite this Entry

“Surpass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surpass. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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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
-ə-bəl How to pronounce surpass (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on surpass

Nglish: Translation of surpass for Spanish Speakers

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