almost surpass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost surpass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is very close to exceeding or going beyond a certain limit or standard. Example: "The new model's performance is impressive; it almost surpasses the previous version in speed and efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Earned income, largely from public sector contracts has been the big growth area, to almost surpass income from mainstream fundraising.

The Guardian

1– 3 According to recent data, the projected prevalence of AF in 2050 will increase to 7.56 million in the United States and will almost surpass 25 million by 2045 in China.

Clinical interventions in aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ad pages for The Industry Standard, the weekly from IDG, are up almost 500percentt against last year and have almost surpassed those of People magazine.

The New York Times

Part of the problem, though, is that he almost surpasses Favre in his ability to provoke commentators to excess — causing them to regularly compare him, as Joe Scarborough quite rightly pointed out, to a "Christ-like figure".

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, Servers & Tools almost surpassed the Windows Division this past quarter.

TechCrunch

Bopara, who made 28 from 38 balls, was caught on the mid-wicket boundary but Buttler almost surpassed that in six deliveries from seamer Kyle Mills, dispatching a six and four fours.

BBC

I watched every Airport movie with Airport 77 (staring my hero Jimmy Stewart) almost surpassing my love for the first movie.

Huffington Post

But the juice is only a ghost of past glory; sadly, reformulated scents almost never surpass the originals.

The New York Times

The American has won four of the past six grand slam titles to overtake Roger Federer (17 overall) with 18 overall and she is hitting the ball so cleanly and with such confidence it is difficult to see anyone stopping her winning her sixth title at Melbourne Park, where she will almost certainly surpass the totals of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (see footnote).

The Guardian - Sport

China will almost certainly surpass Germany as the world's biggest merchandise exporter this year, according to economist Timo Klein of IHS Global Insight, who predicts German exports to drop by roughly 20% in 2009 while Chinese exports show a much smaller decrease.

Forbes

In 2005, it almost certainly surpassed France, and probably squeaked past Britain too.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost surpass" when you want to convey that something is very close to exceeding a certain level or standard, but hasn't quite done so yet. It adds a nuance of anticipation.

Common error

Don't use "almost surpass" if the subject has already exceeded the threshold. It's for situations where the outcome is still impending or just shy of happening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost surpass" functions as a modifier followed by a verb, indicating a state of nearing or approaching the act of exceeding a limit or standard. It suggests a high degree of proximity to surpassing something, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "almost surpass" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something is approaching the point of exceeding a limit or expectation. It's relatively uncommon but appears in both news and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers helpful examples. When writing, it's important to use this phrase accurately, ensuring that the subject hasn't already surpassed the threshold. Alternatives like "nearly exceed" or "come close to exceeding" can be used for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly exceed

Focuses on the action of exceeding with a similar adverb of approximation.

come close to exceeding

Emphasizes the nearness to the act of exceeding, adding slight detail.

approach surpassing

Highlights the movement towards surpassing, rather than the static state.

nearing the point of surpassing

Adds a sense of progression and a specific point of reference.

virtually outstrip

Uses a more forceful verb ("outstrip") with an adverb indicating near completion.

bordering on surpassing

Suggests being on the edge of surpassing, implying a potential future event.

on the verge of exceeding

Similar to 'bordering on', but emphasizes the imminence of exceeding.

approaching the level of surpassing

Focuses on the level or standard that is about to be surpassed.

on track to outdo

Implies a planned or projected surpassing, adding an element of anticipation.

threatening to eclipse

Uses a more dramatic verb ("eclipse") and suggests a potential overshadowing.

FAQs

How can I use "almost surpass" in a sentence?

You can use "almost surpass" to describe a situation where something is close to exceeding a limit or expectation. For example, "The company's profits this quarter "almost surpass" last year's record.".

What's a good alternative to "almost surpass"?

Alternatives include phrases like "nearly exceed", "come close to exceeding", or "approach surpassing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "almost surpassed"?

Yes, "almost surpassed" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct when referring to an event in the past. For instance, "The athlete "almost surpassed" the world record at the last competition.".

What's the difference between "almost surpass" and "surpass"?

"Surpass" means to exceed or go beyond, while "almost surpass" means to come very close to exceeding but not quite reaching that point. The difference lies in whether the threshold was actually exceeded or not.