SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
surpass
verb
To exceed someone or something in achievement, quality, or extent.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Exceed in quality or extent
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topSurpass makes a comparison with someone or something. Excel can stand alone to mean performing very well without naming a rival.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See surpass in use
The final performance managed to surpass the promise of the rehearsals.
The builders hoped to surpass the first prototype's performance without increasing its size.
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.
- SURPASS Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
- Princeton WordNet 3.0: wn30-v-01105639, wn30-v-02669477, wn30-v-02673965
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license