has been surpassed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been surpassed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been exceeded or outdone by another thing in terms of quality, performance, or achievement. Example: "In recent years, the previous record for the fastest marathon has been surpassed by several athletes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But even that has been surpassed.

The New Yorker

But that achievement, laudable though it was, has been surpassed.

The Guardian - Sport

"That approach has been surpassed, including its ideas about collaborating with civil authorities".

The New York Times

But it has been surpassed in recent years by Google's Gmail service and Microsoft's Hotmail offering.

The New York Times

Still, consumer spending in the United States has been surpassed by business spending.

The New York Times

Production of beef and pork, formerly important, has been surpassed by poultry.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The United States, once the world leader in educational attainment, has been surpassed by many countries.

The New York Times

The idea that he has been surpassed by Steph Curry as the world's premier basketball player?

The Guardian - Sport

In achieving this titer, many currently existing strategies have been exhausted, and 1-butanol toxicity level has been surpassed.

Metabolic Engineering

Although it has been surpassed by manufacturing and tourism as an economic force, farming still remains important.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unicef and the World Health Organization reported that the goal of halving measles deaths worldwide by 2005 has been surpassed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that when you use "has been surpassed" you are clear about what the original achievement/thing was and what has exceeded it. Vague comparisons reduce the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "has been surpassed" in situations where active voice would be more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "The record has been surpassed by John", consider "John surpassed the record". This makes the sentence more engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been surpassed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a previous state, level, or achievement has been exceeded or outdone. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

27%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been surpassed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive verb construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something has been exceeded or outdone, often with implications of progress or improvement. It's used across neutral to formal registers, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, ensure clarity about what was surpassed and what exceeded it, and consider whether active voice might be more impactful. Alternative phrases include "has been exceeded" and "has been outstripped".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been exceeded

Indicates that a limit or boundary has been passed; focuses on quantity or degree.

has been outstripped

Highlights a faster rate of progress or achievement by something else.

has been overtaken

Implies a change in ranking or position, often in a competitive context.

has been outdone

Focuses on exceeding in terms of quality or performance.

has been eclipsed

Suggests being overshadowed or made less significant by something else.

has been transcended

Implies moving beyond limitations or boundaries.

has been overshadowed

Emphasizes a loss of prominence or visibility.

has been superseded

Indicates that something has been replaced by something newer or better.

is now second-rate

Focuses on current quality after being surpassed.

no longer leads

Highlights the fact of losing a leading position.

FAQs

How can I use "has been surpassed" in a sentence?

You can use "has been surpassed" to indicate that something has been exceeded or outdone. For example: "The previous sales record "has been surpassed" by the new product launch".

What's the difference between "has been surpassed" and "has been exceeded"?

"Has been surpassed" generally implies that something has been bettered or improved upon, while "has been exceeded" simply means that a limit or boundary has been passed. The former carries a stronger connotation of improvement or competition.

What can I say instead of "has been surpassed"?

You can use alternatives like "has been outstripped", "has been overtaken", or "has been exceeded" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "has been surpassed"?

While "has been surpassed" is in the passive voice, it's often used when the focus is on the thing that was exceeded rather than the actor that surpassed it. However, using active voice can sometimes create a more direct and impactful sentence.