surpassed all expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

"surpassed all expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize that something has exceeded all expectations, often in a positive way. For example, "The fundraiser we held for the local orphanage surpassed all expectations, raising ten times the amount we had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

In recent weeks, judges heard that Mr Elliott was alive and had "surpassed all expectations".

Independent

We've really surpassed all expectations".

The Guardian

The places we've witnessed have surpassed all expectations.

The Guardian - Sport

Later that night, our lovemaking surpassed all expectations.

The New Yorker

See articleApple's earnings for the last three months of 2011 surpassed all expectations.

The Economist

China's own spending, on the other hand, has surpassed all expectations.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

But the magnitude of his reception surpassed all expectation.

The Guardian

Its use of digital projection surpassed all expectation.

Huffington Post

Then, in 2009, it acquired Marvel, the comic-book company whose own forays into movie production were surpassing all expectations.

Independent

What does a party do when it surpasses all expectations, wins the House and the Senate, and leaves its opponent in the dust?

The Guardian - Opinion

And with the boom in American domestic oil production in new shale fields surpassing all expectations over the last four years, dependence on Middle Eastern oil has declined, making access to the Iraqi fields less vital for the United States.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "surpassed all expectations" to highlight unexpectedly positive outcomes, particularly when previous forecasts or predictions were less optimistic. This phrase adds emphasis and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "surpassed all expectations" for minor improvements or expected outcomes. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the results are genuinely surprising and significantly better than anticipated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surpassed all expectations" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as a predicate to describe the degree to which something has exceeded what was anticipated. As Ludwig AI explains, it emphasizes that something has exceeded all expectations, often in a positive way.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "surpassed all expectations" is a commonly used verb phrase to highlight unexpectedly positive outcomes. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and best suited for situations where results significantly exceed anticipations. It appears most frequently in news, sports, and business contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for various communication settings. Alternatives like "exceeded all anticipations" and "succeeded beyond measure" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded every anticipation

Emphasizes that the outcome went beyond what was anticipated.

outstripped all forecasts

Focuses on exceeding predictions or forecasts.

succeeded beyond measure

Highlights the extent of success achieved.

proved better than imagined

Indicates a positive surprise, the reality being better than imagined.

performed far above projections

Highlights performance exceeding initial projections.

achieved unprecedented results

Implies that the results were not only good, but also without precedent.

defied all limitations

Focuses on overcoming perceived limits.

rewrote the standards

Suggests that standards were not only met but improved.

succeeded in ways no one predicted

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the success.

exceeded the rosiest outlook

Implies exceeding even the most optimistic predictions.

FAQs

How can I use "surpassed all expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "surpassed all expectations" to describe a result that was much better than anticipated. For example, "The company's profits this quarter "surpassed all expectations", exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts."

What are some alternatives to "surpassed all expectations"?

Alternatives include "exceeded all anticipations", "outstripped all forecasts", or "succeeded beyond measure", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "exceeded expectations" or "surpassed all expectations"?

"Surpassed all expectations" emphasizes a greater degree of exceeding expectations than simply "exceeded expectations". The choice depends on how significant the overachievement was.

What's the difference between "surpassed all expectations" and "outperformed expectations"?

"Surpassed all expectations" implies that the results were far better than anyone thought possible, while "outperformed expectations" simply means the results were better than expected, but not necessarily to a surprising degree.