Word
surpassing
Phoneticssur·pass·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/sɝˈpæsɪŋ/
UK/səpˈɑːsɪŋ/
Definition
adj. describing something that is much better or greater than anything else of its kind.
adj. exceeding expectations or standard limits; exceptional in degree or quality. Often used to describe abstract qualities like beauty, skill, or intelligence.
Examples
“The view from the mountain top is of surpassing beauty.”
“She showed a surpassing talent for mathematics even before she started primary school.”
“The composer's final symphony was a work of surpassing complexity, weaving together themes that had appeared separately throughout his earlier career.”
Examples
simple
“The view from the mountain top is of surpassing beauty.”
contextual
“She showed a surpassing talent for mathematics even before she started primary school.”
complex
“The composer's final symphony was a work of surpassing complexity, weaving together themes that had appeared separately throughout his earlier career.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to emphasize an extreme or superior quality.
Pitfall
He is surpassing at tennis
He is surpassing in his tennis skills
While 'surpassing' describes a quality, it is rarely used as a predicative adjective to describe a person directly; it usually modifies a specific noun like 'skill' or 'beauty'.
Real-World Examples
“Those numbers put the outbreak on track to potentially become the deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded, surpassing the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people among over 28,000 cases.” “And it said that it was "likely that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record", surpassing the number in 2022 when the agency started studying them.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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