surpass

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'surpass' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to surpassing or exceeding expectations or standards. For example: "His athleticism and drive surpass even the highest expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cook, who has yet to speak to Bayliss but has exchanged voicemails, goes into the second Test needing just 32 runs to surpass the 8,900 that flowed from the bat of Graham Gooch and break a record that has stood for 20 years.

The Guardian - Sport

Next on the calender is the Commonwealth Games, where both will compete for Wales, and their hunger to surpass one another's achievements is certain to drive them on to further successes.

The Guardian - Sport

It also launched an advertising slogan in response to the furore: "Never meant to copy, only want to surpass".

The Guardian - Arts

I'm not talking about Ryan Giggs in a disrespectful way but Gareth's got the capacity, I think, to surpass him".

The Guardian - Sport

Although man has developed war-machines that surpass the abilities of the human body, there is a perceived political and emotional strength in the human form.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It will never surpass the Tour in intensity or difficulty but it's such a pure thing.

The Guardian - Sport

However, the factor to consider here is the different paths that the Miliband bloc and the Cameron bloc have to surpass in order to reach the threshold of 326 seats.

The Guardian

FDI outflows from China grew to $101bn in 2013 and are expected to surpass its inflows within three years.

The Guardian

If a substantial part of that 95% is being invested in pumping carbon into the atmosphere, helping to ruin the planet, it's easy to see how the negative effects of the investments could surpass the charitable efforts.

The Guardian

But could any surpass Jim's?

The Guardian - Travel

By then, China's share of global GDP (measured at purchasing-power parity) will also probably surpass the EU's.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surpass", ensure you clearly define what standard or expectation is being exceeded to provide context and impact.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "surpass" too often in casual conversation can sound overly formal. Consider using more relaxed alternatives like "exceed" or "outdo" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surpass" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being exceeded or outdone. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surpass" is a versatile transitive verb used to indicate exceeding a specific limit, standard, or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. While very common in news, formal, and business settings, the formality level leans towards neutral, making it suitable for professional writing. When considering alternatives like "exceed" or "outdo", remember that "surpass" often implies a greater degree of quality or achievement. For clarity, always define the exceeded benchmark to enhance the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceed

Implies going beyond a given limit or standard.

outdo

Suggests doing better than someone else in a particular activity or competition.

outstrip

Indicates surpassing something in terms of speed or progress.

excel

Conveys surpassing in terms of quality or skill.

transcend

Suggests rising above or going beyond the limitations of something.

overshadow

Implies exceeding to the point of making something else less noticeable.

eclipse

Similar to overshadow, but often used in a more dramatic or complete sense.

beat

Indicates winning against or exceeding a specific opponent or target.

better

Suggests improving upon or exceeding a previous performance or standard.

top

Implies reaching a higher level or exceeding a specific achievement.

FAQs

How to use "surpass" in a sentence?

Use "surpass" to indicate that something exceeds a particular standard, expectation, or limit. For example, "Her achievements "surpass" all expectations".

What can I say instead of "surpass"?

You can use alternatives like "exceed", "outdo", or "transcend" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "surpass" or "exceed"?

Both "surpass" and "exceed" are similar, but "surpass" often carries a stronger connotation of surpassing in quality or achievement, while "exceed" simply means going beyond a limit.

When is it appropriate to use "surpass" in writing?

"Surpass" is appropriate in formal writing and professional contexts where you want to emphasize a significant overachievement or a quality that goes above and beyond.