surpass

verb

To exceed someone or something in achievement, quality, or extent.

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Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.

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The Last Good Apple Tree · paragraph 3

Exceed in quality or extent

Closest synonyms

exceed outdo outstrip outperform outmatch transcend

Related words and expressions

These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.

Usage distinction

Surpass makes a comparison with someone or something. Excel can stand alone to mean performing very well without naming a rival.

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Test this word in the Comprehensive Synonym Exam

CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT

See surpass in use

The final performance managed to surpass the promise of the rehearsals.

Dictionary practice example.

The builders hoped to surpass the first prototype's performance without increasing its size.

From Finishing the Model.

Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.

Synonym reference scope and sources

The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.

How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license

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