exceed

/ɛkˈsid/

/ɛksˈsid/

Other forms: exceeding; exceeded; exceeds

To exceed is to go beyond expectations, or to go too far. If you exceed the speed limit, you might get a speeding ticket.

Exceed and excess share the Latin root excedere meaning to "go beyond." An excess is too much of something, like the piles of candy after Halloween, and exceed means the action of going too far in a good or bad way. You exceed in school when you get straight A's. When Dr. Jekyll transforms into Mr. Hyde, he experiences "a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death." No thanks! It helps to remember that like speed, exceed ends with -eed.

Definitions of exceed

1. verb

   be or do something to a greater degree
   “This exceeds all my expectations”

   synonyms: outdo, outgo, outmatch, outperform, outstrip, surmount, surpass

   types:

   beat, circumvent, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach

   beat through cleverness and wit

   outgrow

   grow faster than

   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

   outpace

   surpass in speed

   better, break

   surpass in excellence

   outshine

   attract more attention and praise than others

   outrange

   have a greater range than (another gun)

   outweigh

   be heavier than

   outbrave

   be braver than

   out-herod

   surpass someone in cruelty or evil

   outfox

   outdo someone in trickery

   shame

   surpass or beat by a wide margin

   outmarch

   march longer distances and for a longer time than

   outwear

   last longer than others

   upstage

   steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else

   type of:

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
2. verb

   be superior or better than some standard
   “She exceeded our expectations”

   synonyms: go past, overstep, pass, top, transcend

   type of:

   excel, stand out, surpass

   distinguish oneself
3. verb

   be greater in scope or size than some standard
   “Their loyalty exceeds their national bonds”

   synonyms: surpass, transcend

   types:

   overgrow

   grow too large