SURPASS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does surpass mean? 

• SURPASS (verb)
  The verb SURPASS has 4 senses:

1. distinguish oneself

2. be or do something to a greater degree

3. move past

4. be greater in scope or size than some standard

  Familiarity information: SURPASS used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SURPASS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they surpass    ... he / she / it surpasses   
Past simple: surpassed   
Past participle: surpassed   
-ing form: surpassing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Distinguish oneself

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

excel; stand out; surpass

Context example:

She excelled in math

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surpass"):

exceed; go past; overstep; pass; top; transcend (be superior or better than some standard)

outrank; rank (take precedence or surpass others in rank)

excel at; shine at (be good at)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be or do something to a greater degree

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

exceed; outdo; outgo; outmatch; outperform; outstrip; surmount; surpass

Context example:

This car outperforms all others in its class

Hypernyms (to "surpass" is one way to...):

beat; beat out; crush; shell; trounce; vanquish (come out better in a competition, race, or conflict)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surpass"):

outgrow (grow faster than)

outwear (last longer than others)

outmarch (march longer distances and for a longer time than)

shame (surpass or beat by a wide margin)

outfox (outdo someone in trickery)

out-herod (surpass someone in cruelty or evil)

outbrave (be braver than)

outweigh (be heavier than)

outrange (have a greater range than (another gun))

outshine (attract more attention and praise than others)

outpace (surpass in speed)

beat; circumvent; outfox; outsmart; outwit; overreach (beat through cleverness and wit)

outcry; outshout (shout louder than)

outroar (roar louder than)

outsail (sail faster or better than)

outdraw (draw a gun faster, or best someone in a gunfight)

outsell (sell more than others)

outsell (be sold more often than other, similar products)

better; break (surpass in excellence)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Move past

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

go by; go past; pass; pass by; surpass; travel by

Context example:

One line of soldiers surpassed the other

Hypernyms (to "surpass" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surpass"):

skirt (pass around or about; move along the border)

run by (pass by while running)

fly by (pass by while flying)

fly by; whisk by; zip by (move by very quickly)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

These cars won't surpass

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be greater in scope or size than some standard

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

exceed; surpass; transcend

Context example:

Their loyalty exceeds their national bonds

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "surpass"):

overgrow (grow too large)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

 Context examples 

"I always said you would surpass them in learning: and can you draw?"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Delighting, however, as Catherine sincerely did in the prospect of the connection, it must be acknowledged that Isabella far surpassed her in tender anticipations.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Do not we rather surpass your expectations?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Many things I read surpassed my understanding and experience.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

In this round and the two which followed he showed a swiftness and accuracy which old ringsiders declared that Mendoza in his prime had never surpassed.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This was the highest for June in the 1880–2015 record, surpassing the previous record set last year in 2014 by 0.22°F (0.12°C).

(June 2015 was warmest June on record for the globe, NOAA)

This was the highest for January–March in the 1880–2015 record, surpassing the previous record of 2002 by 0.09°F (0.05°C).

(March 2015 and first quarter of year warmest on record, NOAA)

Last year’s global CO2 average reached 399 ppm, meaning that the global average in 2016 will almost certainly surpass 400 ppm.

(South Pole is last place on Earth to pass global warming milestone, NOAA)

“My dear Inspector, you surpass yourself!”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

For the year to date, the average global temperature was 1.75 degrees F above average, surpassing the heat record set in 2015 by 0.18 degrees.

(Last month tied as 3rd warmest October on record for the globe, NOAA)