Surpassed
/sərˈpæst/
Definitions
To be greater than or superior to something else; to exceed or go beyond.
/sərˈpæs/
To exceed or be greater than.
The new model surpasses the previous one in terms of speed.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to jump over a bar in gymnastics. If you jump higher than the bar, you've surpassed it! This word is like when you do better than something else.
👶 For kids: When you do better than something else, like if you get a better score than your friend in a game, you've surpassed them!
More Examples
Her dedication and hard work surpassed all obstacles.
The sales figures surpassed all previous records.
He surpassed his personal best in the race.
How It's Used
"His performance surpassed all expectations."
"The company's profits surpassed last year's record."
"She surpassed the previous world record in the marathon."
From Middle English *surpassen*, from Old French *surpasser* ("to go beyond, exceed"), from *sur-* ("over, above") + *passer* ("to pass").
The word 'surpass' has been used since the 14th century, initially meaning 'to go beyond' or 'to excel'. Early examples are found in religious and literary texts.
Memory tip
Think of it like 'passing over' something to reach a higher level.
Word Origin
"to go over or beyond"