exceed

verb

ik-ˈsēd How to pronounce exceed (audio)
Definition of exceednext
1
as in to surpass
to go beyond the limit of by resorting to corporal punishment, the teacher had clearly exceeded his authority

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to better
to be greater, better, or stronger than her knowledge of French wines exceeds that of anyone else I know

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb exceed contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of exceed are excel, outdo, outstrip, surpass, and transcend. While all these words mean "to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree," exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

When would excel be a good substitute for exceed?

Although the words excel and exceed have much in common, excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

When is it sensible to use outdo instead of exceed?

The words outdo and exceed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

Where would outstrip be a reasonable alternative to exceed?

The synonyms outstrip and exceed are sometimes interchangeable, but outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

When could surpass be used to replace exceed?

In some situations, the words surpass and exceed are roughly equivalent. However, surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

When is transcend a more appropriate choice than exceed?

While the synonyms transcend and exceed are close in meaning, transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exceed To date, the City Doula Initiative has assisted more than 3,200 families across the five boroughs, exceeding its goal of serving 1,000 individuals who give birth per year, having reached 1,128 new clients in 2024 alone. —Suzanne Miles-Gustave, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025 Overall, the technology would help create 170 million jobs across the globe over the next five years, far exceeding 92 million jobs lost, the survey found. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 July 2025 In 2023, Luckin’s revenue in China exceeded what Starbucks made there for the first time, bouncing back from an accounting scandal that got Luckin booted from the Nasdaq in 2020. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 2 July 2025 Despite Israel’s qualitatively effective defenses, an underlying quantitative war attrition was at play that threatened to degrade Israel’s position over time: Iranian stocks of MRBM-class missiles likely exceeded the number of anti-MRBM interceptors possessed by Israel (ie. Arrow-2 and 3). —Sebastien Roblin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for exceed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exceed
  1. surpass
  2. better
  3. top
  4. eclipse
Verb
  • Interest payments are now the second-largest spending category in the federal budget, surpassing Medicare and defense in fiscal year 2024 and trailing only Social Security.
    — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 July 2025
  • As of Thursday afternoon, about 50 companies listed under the S&P had reported earnings for the second-quarter, and 88% of them surpassed projections, data show.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Definition of surpass
Verb
  • The performance, which bettered Wilson’s former U18 best of 44.20 from last year at the Holloway Pro Classic, moved the rising high school senior and Olympic gold medalist to No. 4 in the world at the distance.
    — Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
  • Research has shown that expressing gratitude provides many health benefits including reducing depression, improving self-esteem, bettering sleep, lowering blood pressure and an increased sense of happiness and well-being.
    — Rafael James, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
Definition of better
Verb
  • In a split decision, Tesla missed sales estimates but Alphabet topped forecasts.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 24 July 2025
  • Pacheco topped the Chiefs in rushing in 2022 (830 yards) and 2023 (935), and his draft class helped KC win nine straight playoff games before falling in last season’s Super Bowl.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2025
Definition of top
Verb
  • Only Ichiro himself has eclipsed that total since, with his MLB-record 262 in 2004.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 25 July 2025
  • The next one is a partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21, when up to 80% of the sun will be eclipsed by the moon as seen from the Pacific Ocean (including Fiji, Tahiti and New Zealand) and Antarctica.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of eclipse

Browse Nearby Words

excavations
exceed
exceeded
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Cite this Entry

“Exceed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exceed. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of exceed for Spanish Speakers

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