surpassed

USAGE SUMMARY

"surpassed" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the act of achieving or going beyond the level of something or someone else, or to exceed a standard or expectation. For example: "The CEO surpassed all expectations during her first year in office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They rose blissfully above the backstage tensions and excoriating reviews, producing an acting masterclass that surpassed anything they actually achieved in the film.

The Guardian - Film

Between them, the Times and the Sunday Times have in fact managed to repeat the myth 40 times in total since 1998, an achievement only surpassed by the Daily Mail, which leads the field with 44 mentions.

The Guardian - Opinion

Allin aimed to be the ultimate rock'n'roll degenerate, but as an icon of filth, Barlow has surpassed him.

The Guardian - Opinion

This diversity faded away, however, as one particular model gradually surpassed all the others to become the world map that is now ubiquitous on classroom walls, in books and now even on Google Maps.

The Guardian

The new party, the HDP or Peoples' Democratic party, largely representing the Kurds but also encompassing leftwing liberals, surpassed the steep 10% threshold for entering parliament to take more than 12% of the vote and around 80 seats in the 550-strong chamber.

The Guardian

The Hungarians' ball control and movement utterly surpassed England's.

The Guardian - Sport

NBC's flagship morning program, Today, was surpassed in 2012 by its main competition, ABC's Good Morning America, after leading the morning ratings for 16 years.

The Guardian

The landmarks related to the old soldiers Jimmy Anderson, who notched his 400th wicket on Friday, and Alastair Cook, who surpassed Graham Gooch's number of Test runs, and to the newcomer Adam Lyth, who hit his maiden Test century on his home ground.

The Guardian - Sport

Xavi surpassed the previous record he held with the former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raúl.

The Guardian - Sport

Kalamma has never been to school and Ramish has already surpassed her educational achievement.

The Guardian

When the couple first put their business plan together they hoped to sell 10,000 bottles in the first year, but eight months in and they have already surpassed their own target and sold 12,000, with the first batch selling out in 40 hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a continuous increase or improvement that has gone beyond expectations or initial targets, "surpassed" is suitable. For example, "The company's profits have surpassed all projections this quarter."

Common error

Avoid using "surpassed" when you simply mean that something has passed by or gone beyond a specific point without exceeding a certain standard or expectation. For instance, use "passed the deadline" instead of "surpassed the deadline" if no standard was exceeded.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "surpassed" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "surpass". It's used to indicate that something or someone has exceeded a certain level, limit, or expectation. This is supported by Ludwig and the numerous examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "surpassed" functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "surpass", indicating that something has exceeded expectations or a defined limit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard grammatical rules and is appropriate for general use. It is most frequently encountered in news, business, and science-related contexts. While alternatives like "exceeded" and "outstripped" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using "surpassed", ensure it accurately reflects exceeding a defined standard, not simply passing a point.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded

Implies going beyond a limit or expectation, similar to "surpassed" but may focus more on a specific threshold.

outstripped

Suggests moving ahead quickly and significantly, emphasizing speed and distance in exceeding something.

outdid

Implies doing better than someone else, often in a competitive context. More personal than "surpassed".

excelled

Focuses on demonstrating superior quality or skill, highlighting the positive aspect of exceeding expectations.

transcended

Suggests rising above or beyond limitations or constraints, often in a metaphorical or spiritual sense. More abstract than "surpassed".

eclipsed

Implies overshadowing or diminishing the importance of something else, often through superior achievement.

bettered

Simply means to improve upon or surpass something, often used in the context of records or personal bests.

outmatched

Suggests being superior in skill or ability, often used in competitive scenarios.

surmounted

Implies overcoming a challenge or obstacle, then exceeding expectations or previous performance.

overtook

Implies catching up and then moving ahead of something or someone, emphasizing the act of passing.

FAQs

How is "surpassed" used in a sentence?

"Surpassed" is used to indicate that something or someone has gone beyond a limit, expectation, or standard. For example, "The athlete's performance "surpassed" all previous records".

What words are similar to "surpassed"?

Alternatives to "surpassed" include "exceeded", "outstripped", "outdid", "excelled", and "transcended". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "surpassed" when something merely "passed"?

No, "surpassed" should only be used when something exceeds a limit or expectation. If something simply goes by or beyond a point, use "passed" instead.

What is the difference between "surpassed" and "surmounted"?

"Surpassed" means to exceed a limit or expectation, while "surmounted" means to overcome an obstacle. Although somewhat semantically related, they are not interchangeable. The athlete surpassed all expectations, whereas the climber surmounted the mountain.