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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Surpass: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：outperform (surpass)

surpass 🔊

/sərˈpæs/

to do better than someone or something else, especially in a way that is very impressive.

outperform 🔊

➕

/aʊtpərˈfɔːrm/

To do better than someone or something else, often in an impressive or notable way.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'super' (over) and 'pass' (to go), meaning to go over or exceed.

💡 Mnemonic

Super + pass: Imagine a superhero passing everyone in a race to surpass them.

📖 Example

The performance of the new smartphone model is expected to surpass its predecessor in every way. 🔊 The new smartphone model is predicted to outperform its predecessor in all aspects.

🔗 Collocations

surpass expectations – to achieve better results than anticipated

surpass the competition – to do better than rivals

surpass oneself – to perform better than one's previous best

🔄 Synonyms

exceed (v.) – to go beyond a limit or standard

outdo (v.) – to do better than someone else

transcend (v.) – to go beyond the limits of something

🚫 Antonyms

fall short (v.) – to fail to reach a desired standard

lag behind (v.) – to be slower or less successful than others

🌱 Derivatives

surpassing (adj.) – exceptionally good or impressive

📖 Cultural Story

'Surpass' comes from Old French 'surpasser', from Latin 'super' (over) and 'passare' (to pass). It entered English in the 16th century and is often used in competitive contexts like sports or technology to denote exceeding standards.

Meaning 2：exceed limits (surpass)

surpass 🔊

/sərˈpæs/

to go beyond a certain number, amount, or limit.

Surpass meaning of exceeding limits shown by a thermometer rising past its maximum scale.

exceed limits 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈsiːd ˈlɪmɪts/

To go beyond a specific number, amount, or boundary, often breaking previous records.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This summer's temperatures have surpassed all previous records for the region. 🔊 This summer's temperatures have exceeded all prior records for the area.

🔗 Collocations

surpass records – to go beyond previous best marks

surpass the mark – to exceed a set point or level

surpass a threshold – to go above a critical limit

🔄 Synonyms

exceed (v.) – to be greater than a number or amount

transcend (v.) – to go beyond normal limits

overstep (v.) – to go beyond allowed boundaries

🚫 Antonyms

remain within (v.) – to stay inside set limits

stay below (v.) – to not go above a certain level

🌱 Derivatives

surpassing (adj.) – going beyond ordinary limits