Surpass

How to spell surpass

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce surpass

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does surpass mean?

1. verbTo go beyond or be greater than something in quality, amount, or degree.

Surpass in a sentence

• The sales figures this quarter surpass every previous record.

• Few rivals can surpass her skill at negotiating contracts.

Where does surpass come from?

Language of origin: French

This word comes from the French surpasser, meaning literally 'to pass beyond' or 'to go past'. It was built from the prefix sur-, meaning 'over' or 'above' (itself from the Latin super, 'above'), combined with passer, 'to pass' or 'to go'. English adopted it in the early 1500s, keeping the sense of going beyond a limit or exceeding someone or something. The shared sur- prefix is the same element seen in surplus, surface, and surcharge, all carrying the idea of being over and above. Because the second half is simply the familiar English 'pass', the main spelling point is remembering the single r in sur- and the double s of pass, not a doubled r.

How the word is built

• sur- (over, beyond)
• pass (to go, proceed)