surpass yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

"surpass yourself" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to exceed your own expectations, abilities, or past performances. Example: Despite facing numerous obstacles, the athlete surpassed herself and set a new world record in the marathon.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Rather, he suggested, "You need a lot of confidence and the ability to surpass yourself".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was bad enough that Bono was named Glamour magazine's "woman of the year", but this week you surpassed yourself, as fictional women were fired and hired for real-life roles.

The Guardian - Books

Kickstarting Seven Figures: Amanda Palmer, an enthusiastically do-it-yourself musician, surpassed $1 million on Tuesday for her most recent Kickstarter campaign.

The New York Times

A full Moon in the most social sector of your 'scope is a good excuse to leave routine behind and express yourself as a social being with gifts that surpass work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Nobody could surpass him.

The New York Times - Tech

Might surpass shortly.

The New York Times

American manufacturing payrolls surpass $500 billion.

The New York Times

Unemployment could surpass 26% next year.

The Economist

Nothing could surpass the iPhone".

The New York Times - Tech

What theatrical marvel could surpass this?

The New York Times - Arts

How did London surpass Wall Street?

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about personal development, "surpass yourself" can effectively convey a sense of growth, resilience, and the continuous pursuit of excellence.

Common error

Avoid using "surpass yourself" when referring to exceeding someone else's accomplishments. The reflexive pronoun "yourself" indicates the achievement is relative to the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surpass yourself" functions as an intransitive verb phrase with a reflexive pronoun. It emphasizes exceeding one's own abilities or expectations. Ludwig AI provides examples where it is used to describe achieving personal bests or exceeding limitations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surpass yourself" is a powerful way to describe exceeding one's own abilities or expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, primarily in news and media. To ensure accurate usage, remember that it is a reflexive phrase, meaning the subject is exceeding their own limits, not someone else's. Consider alternatives like "outdo yourself" or "transcend yourself" to add nuance to your writing. Use "surpass yourself" to inspire confidence and highlight meaningful personal growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outdo yourself

It emphasizes exceeding your own previous achievements or capabilities.

exceed your own expectations

This highlights the act of surpassing anticipated outcomes or personal goals.

transcend yourself

This alternative conveys a sense of moving beyond one's current limitations, suggesting a more profound or spiritual level of self-improvement.

break your own record

This focuses on surpassing a previously set personal best or achievement.

raise the bar for yourself

This emphasizes setting higher standards and achieving beyond previous limits.

excel beyond your capabilities

This highlights achieving a level of performance considered beyond one's normal abilities.

beat yourself

This implies overcoming your own previous performance or standard.

go above and beyond

This emphasizes exceeding what is normally expected of oneself.

push your limits

This alternative suggests actively challenging and extending one's boundaries.

overcome yourself

It focuses on conquering personal weaknesses or limitations to achieve a higher level of performance.

FAQs

How can I use "surpass yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "surpass yourself" to describe exceeding your own limits or expectations. For instance, "Despite the challenges, she managed to "surpass herself" and achieve a personal best".

What is a good alternative to "surpass yourself"?

Alternatives to "surpass yourself" include phrases like "outdo yourself", "exceed expectations", or "transcend yourself", which all convey the idea of exceeding one's previous abilities.

Is it correct to say "surpassed myself"?

Yes, "surpassed myself" is the past tense form of "surpass yourself" and is grammatically correct. It is used to describe an action where you exceeded your own previous performance or abilities.

What's the difference between "surpass yourself" and "beat yourself"?

"Surpass yourself" generally means to exceed your own expectations or previous performance. "Beat yourself", on the other hand, implies either self-criticism or competing against a previous personal record. While both relate to self-improvement, the context and connotation differ. It's useful to consider "transcend yourself", if you need another alternative.