exceed

verb

ex·​ceed ik-ˈsēd How to pronounce exceed (audio)
exceeded; exceeding; exceeds

transitive verb

1
: to be greater than or superior to
2
: to go beyond a limit set by
exceeded his authority
3
: to extend outside of
the river will exceed its banks
Choose the Right Synonym for exceed

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip 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

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of exceed in a Sentence

The cost must not exceed 10 dollars. The cost exceeded our estimate. The demand for new housing has already exceeded the supply. He's trying to match or exceed last year's sales.
Recent Examples on the Web Most borrowers who made qualifying payments that exceeded the applicable forgiveness period of 20 or 25 years, will receive a refund for their overpayment, the Department of Education said. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024 The city’s two main parking garages — adjacent to the City Administration Building, City Operations Building and Civic Center Plaza building — can currently accommodate 1,500 cars, and demand exceeds supply, Chalfant said. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024 Central and South Asia contain the top four most polluted countries in the world—Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Tajikistan—and 31% of the region’s cities reported PM2.5 levels more than 10 times the WHO standard, a proportion vastly exceeding any other region in the report. TIME, 19 Mar. 2024 Hot Springs Village Public Works Director Ken Unger said the progress made over the weekend exceeded his expectations. James Leigh, arkansasonline.com, 19 Mar. 2024 The top 10 Michigan cities with on-premise license numbers that exceed their quotas are Detroit, Flint, Bay City, Jackson, Hamtramck, Saginaw, Wyandotte, Escanaba, Mt. Clemens and Iron Mountain, the report said. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 19 Mar. 2024 If the landlord applies for a rent increase based on capital improvements to a heating system, tenants can object by arguing that the existing system has not exceeded its useful life as outlined by the state. Jill Terreri Ramos, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 In general, the AAP recommends not exceeding 32 ounces of formula per day. Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 The city might face an operating referendum in the coming years, which allows a school or municipality to exceed its revenue limit without issuing new debt and pays for operating costs like salaries, benefits and supplies. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exceed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English exceden, from Middle French exceder, from Latin excedere, from ex- + cedere to go

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of exceed was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exceed

Cite this Entry

“Exceed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exceed. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exceed

verb
ex·​ceed ik-ˈsēd How to pronounce exceed (audio)
1
: to be greater than
the cost must not exceed ten dollars
2
: to go or be beyond the limit

More from Merriam-Webster on exceed

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