First Known Use: 1555
Dictionary
surpass
transitive verb sur·pass \sər-ˈpas\
: to be better or greater than (someone or something)
Full Definition of SURPASS
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>
— sur·pass·able \-ˈpa-sə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of SURPASS
Middle French surpasser, from sur- + passer to pass
Related to SURPASS
Synonym Discussion of SURPASS
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>.
Rhymes with SURPASS
admass, air mass, alas, Alsace, amass, art glass, avgas, badass, bagasse, beach grass, bear grass, bent grass, black bass, Black Mass, bluegrass, bromegrass, bunchgrass, bypass, cheatgrass, cordgrass, crabgrass, crevasse, cuirass, cut glass, cut-grass, declass, degas, drop pass, Drygas, eelgrass, en masse, eyeglass, first-class, flint glass, float glass, folk mass, ground glass, groundmass, hand glass, harass, hard-ass, haul ass, high-class, high mass, hourglass, impasse, jackass, jump pass, kelp bass, kick ass, kick-ass, knotgrass, landmass, lead glass, low mass, Madras, milk glass, morass, nut grass, oat grass, outclass, outgas, palliasse, pier glass, plate glass, quartz glass, red mass, repass, rest mass, ribgrass, rock bass, ryegrass, salt grass, sandglass, saw grass, screen pass, sea bass, sheet glass, smart-ass, South Pass, spot pass, spun glass, spyglass, stained glass, star grass, striped bass, subclass, sunglass, sung mass, sweetgrass, switchgrass, sword grass, teargas, third-class, trespass, Troas, turfgrass, wheatgrass, white bass, wineglass, wire grass, wiseass, witchgrass, word class, world-class, yard grass
SURPASS Defined for Kids
surpass
verb sur·pass \sər-ˈpas\
sur·passedsur·pass·ing
Definition of SURPASS for Kids
1
: to be greater, better, or stronger than : exceed <“You will find that the conditions at a fair will surpass your wildest dreams.” — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web>
2
: to go beyond the reach or powers of <The task surpassed their strength.>
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