# exceed

/ɪkˈsid/ (US) · /ɛksˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exceed
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to be greater than a number

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to be more than a specific amount, number, or size.

For teachers: to be greater than a specified number, amount, or degree. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The final cost of the house must not exceed our budget of three hundred thousand dollars.
- The annual rate of inflation is expected to exceed the central bank's target, prompting concerns about future interest rate hikes.

Usage: Commonly used with numerical values, percentages, and financial limits.

### 2. to go beyond a limit

verb · CEFR B2

to go past an official limit or a rule.

For teachers: to go beyond a set limit, boundary, or legal restriction.

- He was pulled over by the police for exceeding the speed limit on the motorway.
- The executive was disciplined for exceeding her authority when she signed the contract without board approval.

Usage: Frequently collocates with 'limit', 'authority', 'powers', or 'expectations'.

### 3. to be better than

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to be better than what was expected or planned.

For teachers: to surpass in quality, achievement, or excellence.

- The beauty of the island exceeded all our expectations.
- The young athlete's performance in the qualifying rounds exceeded even the most optimistic predictions of her coaching staff.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'exceed expectations'.

## Examples

- The final cost will exceed our original budget.
- Drivers who exceed the speed limit in school zones face much higher fines than on regular roads.
- The quarterly results significantly exceed the analysts' expectations, suggesting that the recent restructuring has improved operational efficiency more rapidly than anticipated.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.