exceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "exceed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to when someone or something surpasses a limit or challenge, for example "The basketball player exceeded expectations with his incredible play."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The documents make clear that some of the welfare money-saving options will be necessary because demand for benefits over the next five years is highly likely to exceed the cap limit by billions of pounds.

The Guardian

The taxing of disability benefits could save up to £1.5bn a year, according to officials, reducing the income of those whose incomes exceed a tax threshold.

The Guardian

But rates of new HIV infections exceed treatment rates.

The Guardian

No forecaster is expecting real GDP growth to exceed 3% this year and the unemployment rate is likely to be nearer 6.5% than 6%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since the regulations were introduced, the extent of opt-out clauses, allowing workers to exceed the maximum number of hours permitted, has grown considerably, so it's hard to demonstrate that this has had any significant effect in killing off economic growth.

The Guardian - Opinion

This explains why the GDP and employment of Luxembourg City actually exceed those of Luxembourg country.

The Guardian

They need to meet or exceed their last quarter totals ($5m for her, $2m for him – he also self-funded an additional $2m).

The Guardian - Opinion

Last month, meanwhile, the journal Nature published a meta-analysis using 39 climate models to predict "dates of departures" when local temperatures would exceed historical extremes recorded over the previous 150 years.

The Guardian

An overview of studies covering more than 400,000 people showed that individuals who exceed 48 working hours per week are likelier to consume "risky" quantities of alcohol, they said.

The Guardian

If Kekhman needs advice, he could always turn to Messerer, whose knowledge, experience and taste greatly exceed that of anyone else in his entourage.

The Guardian

Imagine ignoring a person's credit-card debt and just looking at whether his or her wages exceed their outgoings: if so, that's a primary surplus.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exceed", ensure the context clearly defines the limit or expectation being surpassed. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "exceed" when simply reaching a target or goal. "Exceed" implies surpassing a specific, often pre-defined, limit, not just achieving something.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "exceed" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being surpassed or exceeded. Ludwig AI's examples showcase its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

26%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exceed" is a transitive verb used to describe the act of surpassing a specific limit or expectation. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, including news, business, and scientific writing. It is important to differentiate "exceed" from similar words like "excel" or "accede", focusing on its specific meaning of surpassing a defined boundary. When using "exceed", ensure clarity by clearly stating what is being surpassed to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass

Emphasizes going beyond a limit, degree or measure.

outstrip

Highlights exceeding something, often in a competitive sense, like outpacing a rival.

outdo

Suggests doing better than someone or something else.

transcend

Implies rising above or going beyond the limits of something.

go beyond

A more straightforward way of saying "exceed", focusing on surpassing a boundary.

beat

Informal and direct way of expressing surpassing a limit.

overstep

Focuses on exceeding a boundary or limit in a way that may be inappropriate.

top

Indicates reaching a level higher than what was achieved before.

rise above

Highlights the action of overcoming and exceeding a difficult situation.

eclipse

Indicates surpassing in importance or power.

FAQs

How to use "exceed" in a sentence?

Use "exceed" to indicate surpassing a set limit or expectation, such as "The company's profits "exceeded" all previous records".

What can I say instead of "exceed"?

You can use alternatives like "surpass", "outstrip", or "go beyond" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "exceed" or "accede"?

"Exceed" means to surpass or go beyond a limit, while "accede" means to agree or give consent. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "exceed" and "excel"?

"Exceed" means to surpass or go beyond, while "excel" means to be exceptionally good at something. Use "exceed" for limits and "excel" for abilities.