surpass
ser-PAS
/sərˈpæs/
To exceed; to be greater than; to do better than.
Focuses on exceeding a specific standard, limit, or previous achievement, rather than just defeating an opponent.
The story behind the word. Surpass comes from the Old French 'surpasser', combining 'sur-' (beyond, over) and 'passer' (to pass). It literally means to step over or go beyond the physical or metaphorical boundaries set by others.
Word relationships
- exceed: Exceed is often used for numerical limits or boundaries, while surpass implies outstanding quality or merit.
- outdo: Outdo is more informal and focuses on beating another person's specific action.
- fail: Fail means to fall short of a standard rather than exceeding it.
- underperform: Underperform means to do worse than expected or worse than a competitor.
Commonly confused with
- supersede: Surpass means to be better than; supersede means to replace something old or obsolete.
Word family
- surpassing (adjective): Incomparable or outstanding.
- unsurpassed (adjective): Superior to all others; unmatched.
Collocations
- surpass expectations
- surpass records
- easily surpass
- surpass in quality
Example sentences
- "Her latest novel will easily surpass her previous bestsellers in both critical acclaim and commercial success." Artistic achievement
Memory hook
To SURPASS is to PASS SUR-prisingly far ahead of everyone else. Stepping over and beyond the limit.
When not to use
Do not use when you physically walk past someone; use 'pass' or 'bypass' instead.
Fun facts
- In the Renaissance, artists strove to 'surpass' nature itself, believing that art should perfect the flaws found in the natural world.
Related words
Explore more words
supersede, transcendent, emulate, transcendence, supremacy, make progress
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