is surpassed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is surpassed by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that one thing is outperformed or exceeded by another in some way. Example: "In terms of sales, our product is surpassed by our competitor's latest model."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Even in the urban areas, the NBC is surpassed by the Indian Standard codes of practice due to high dependence of NBC into IS code.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

For sheer art historical importance, it is surpassed by two iron doors crafted by Sigismond Falkenhauer.

The New York Times - Arts

The spectacle of his wealth is surpassed by the vulgarity of his tongue.

The New York Times - Tech

run in 4.1 seconds is surpassed by any number of desirable European coupes at less than half the price.

The New York Times

And in the United States, the popularity of Olympic-style wrestling is surpassed by the staged bombast of professional wrestling.

The New York Times - Sports

Maximizers, he writes, "spend hours reading reviews and feel disappointed when an item falls short of expectations or is surpassed by a new model.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

It was surpassed by Apple and Samsung.

The New York Times

They have just been surpassed by Wal-Mart, she said.

The New York Times

("We have even been surpassed by a country embattled by civil war," Slate noted).

The New Yorker

He has been bothered by tendinitis in his left wrist and has been surpassed by Richard Hidalgo, Shane Spencer and Eric Valent.

The New York Times - Sports

The biggest American company by market capitalization in the late 1990s, it was surpassed by Apple last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using alternative phrases like "is exceeded by" or "is outstripped by" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Common error

Avoid overusing the passive voice construction with "is surpassed by" when an active voice would make the sentence more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The old model is surpassed by the new one in sales", consider "The new model outsells the old one."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is surpassed by" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something is exceeded or outperformed by something else. Ludwig confirms its correct usage. Examples show comparisons in various contexts, such as performance, popularity, and emissions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

45%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is surpassed by" is a common passive construction used to indicate that one thing exceeds another in a particular quality or quantity. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's frequently found in news and scientific contexts, demonstrating comparisons and highlighting superior performance or achievement. While neutral in register, writers should avoid overusing the passive voice and consider active alternatives for more direct communication. Related phrases like "is exceeded by" or "is outstripped by" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is exceeded by

Indicates a higher degree or amount than something else, focusing on quantifiable aspects.

is overshadowed by

Implies that something is less noticeable or important due to the prominence of something else.

is outstripped by

Suggests rapid progress or achievement that leaves something else behind.

is dwarfed by

Emphasizes a significant difference in size, scale, or importance.

is eclipsed by

Highlights a temporary loss of prominence due to the emergence of something else.

is bettered by

Focuses on an improvement in quality or performance.

is surmounted by

Suggests that something has overcome a challenge and achieved a higher position.

is transcended by

Indicates that something has gone beyond the limits or boundaries of something else.

pales in comparison to

Shows a marked deficiency in comparison.

falls short of

Highlights a failure to reach a certain standard or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "is surpassed by" in a sentence?

Use "is surpassed by" to indicate that something exceeds something else in a specific quality or quantity. For example, "The speed of this new computer "is surpassed by" only a few models on the market".

What are some alternatives to saying "is surpassed by"?

Alternatives include "is exceeded by", "is outstripped by", or "is overshadowed by", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "is surpassed by" or "surpasses"?

It depends on the context. "Is surpassed by" is passive and emphasizes what is being exceeded, while "surpasses" is active and emphasizes what is doing the exceeding. For instance, "The new model surpasses the old one" is active, while "The old model "is surpassed by" the new one" is passive.

What does it mean when something "is surpassed by" something else?

It means that the latter has exceeded the former in some quality, quantity, or achievement. Essentially, the second item is better or greater than the first in a measurable way.