far exceed

USAGE SUMMARY

"far exceed" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to emphasize that something is much greater than expected or is much greater than something else. For example: The results of the test far exceeded our expectations.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"They far exceed every expectation I had".

The New York Times

But the opportunities far exceed the dangers.

The New York Times

His campaigning qualities far exceed his liabilities.

The Guardian - Opinion

But Kemsley's ambitions far exceed retro sportswear.

The New York Times - Magazine

The family's expenses, mostly hers, far exceed that.

The New York Times - Tech

Those funds, he said, "far exceed any settlement amount".

The New York Times

The program's successes seem to far exceed its failures, however.

The New York Times

Every year, payouts far exceed contributions by workers and employers.

The Economist

Still, New York's costs far exceed those elsewhere.

The New York Times

But the people's needs far exceed the aid at hand.

The New York Times

Comcast's operating margins for cable far exceed AT&T's.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far exceed" to emphasize a significant difference or degree, adding impact to your statement. For example, "The demand for the product far exceeded our initial projections."

Common error

While "far" emphasizes the extent of exceeding, adding another adverb like "greatly" creates unnecessary redundancy. Stick with "far exceed" for a concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far exceed" functions as a verb phrase, where "far" intensifies the verb "exceed". It indicates that something surpasses another thing by a significant margin. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples where it is used to denote substantial differences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far exceed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that emphasizes a significant difference or degree by which something surpasses another. According to Ludwig, it functions to highlight the magnitude of the difference, adding impact to the statement. While suitable for various contexts, it maintains a generally neutral to slightly formal tone. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, using redundant adverbs with "far exceed" should be avoided to ensure conciseness and clarity in writing. Its widespread use in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underlines its validity and effectiveness in conveying substantial superiority or excess.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

greatly surpass

Emphasizes the act of exceeding by a large margin, focusing on the comparative aspect.

significantly outweigh

Highlights the relative importance or influence of one thing over another.

considerably outstrip

Suggests a substantial difference in quantity or degree, often used in competitive contexts.

vastly trump

Indicates that something is overwhelmingly superior or more important.

exceed by a wide margin

Explicitly states that the difference is substantial, leaving less room for interpretation.

greatly overshadow

Focuses on one thing diminishing the importance or visibility of another.

substantially top

Implies achieving a higher level or surpassing a specific threshold by a considerable amount.

greatly eclipse

Suggests that one thing has obscured or surpassed another to a significant degree.

considerably better

Uses a general term to refer to any kind of exceeding, but it does not sound as idiomatic as other alternatives.

outperform by leaps and bounds

The expression uses a more figurative language which makes the tone more informal.

FAQs

How can I use "far exceed" in a sentence?

Use "far exceed" to emphasize that something is much greater or better than expected. For example: "The company's profits "far exceed" last year's earnings."

What's a less formal alternative to "far exceed"?

While "far exceed" is suitable for formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "greatly surpass" or "considerably outstrip" for a slightly less formal tone.

What does "far exceed" emphasize?

"Far exceed" emphasizes that something is not just slightly greater, but significantly and noticeably so. It highlights a substantial difference or improvement.

Is it redundant to say "greatly far exceed"?

Yes, using "greatly" with "far exceed" is redundant. The word "far" already intensifies the verb "exceed", so adding another adverb is unnecessary.