surpassed only by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "surpassed only by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is exceeded in quality, quantity, or significance by only one other thing. Example: "The beauty of the sunset was surpassed only by the breathtaking view of the mountains."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Your outer beauty was surpassed only by your inner beauty.

The New York Times

"His appetite for life was surpassed only by his appetite for food, which was surpassed only by his appetite for crossbreeding house cats with wild squirrels.

The New Yorker

We shared a passion for life that was surpassed only by his passion for success.

The Guardian - Sport

In Clinton he faced a candidate whose unpopularity rating was surpassed only by his own.

The Guardian

Kuwait is the second largest donor to the regional response, surpassed only by the US.

The Guardian

My elbows have no limits to their waywardness, and are surpassed only by my knees.

The Guardian - Opinion

Among Republicans, it was surpassed only by immigration in June, according to the latest Kaiser survey.

The New York Times

Their hatred of everyone around them is surpassed only by their loathing of themselves.

The New York Times - Books

The country'snatural resources, rubber, tin, oil, and coal, is surpassed only by the U.S. & Russia.

The New Yorker

Outside Europe, support for the domestic league is surpassed only by that of Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

It is surpassed only by the National People's Congress in China.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "surpassed only by", ensure that you clearly identify both the subject being compared and the single item that surpasses it to provide clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the sentence structure clearly indicates what surpasses the subject. Vague phrasing can confuse the reader about which item is actually superior.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "surpassed only by" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by indicating that it is second in degree or quality to only one other item. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a grammatically sound expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

12%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "surpassed only by" is a versatile comparative expression indicating that something is second to none, except for one other entity. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. It is frequently found in news, scientific writing, and encyclopedias, emphasizing relative importance or quality. When using this phrase, clarity is key. Be sure to explicitly state what is being compared and what it is being surpassed by. Alternatives like "exceeded only by" or "second only to" can provide similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded only by

Replaces "surpassed" with "exceeded", maintaining the same comparative meaning.

outdone only by

Substitutes "surpassed" with "outdone", emphasizing the idea of being outperformed by just one other.

second only to

Uses a more direct phrasing to indicate something is in second place.

eclipsed only by

Emphasizes that something is overshadowed by only one other thing.

bettered only by

Indicates that something is improved upon by a single other entity.

outranked only by

Implies a hierarchical order where something is second in rank.

equaled or surpassed only by

Expands to include the possibility of being equaled before being surpassed by something else.

rivaled only by

Highlights that something is almost unmatched, with only one other thing being superior.

matched or surpassed only by

Specifies that something was either equally good as, or better than others, except for one.

second-best to

A more straightforward way of saying something is the second best.

FAQs

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

Use "surpassed only by" to indicate that something is second best or second most significant, with only one other thing exceeding it. For example, "His love for music was "surpassed only by" his love for his family".

What phrases are similar to "surpassed only by"?

Alternatives include "exceeded only by", "second only to", or "outdone only by", which all convey a similar meaning of being the best except for one other thing.

Is it correct to say "surpassed by only" instead of "surpassed only by"?

While "surpassed by only" might be understood, ""surpassed only by"" is the more common and grammatically preferred construction.

What's the difference between "surpassed only by" and "equaled by"?

"Surpassed only by" indicates that something is second best, while "equaled by" means something is on par with something else. They have opposite meanings.