[ex.ceed] vb [ME exceden, fr. MF exceder, fr. L excedere, fr. ex- + cedere to go] vt (14c) 1: to extend outside of "the river will ~ its banks"
2: to be greater than or superior to
3: to go beyond a limit set by "~ed his authority" ~ vi 1 obs: overdo
2: predominate syn exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree. exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement "exceed the speed limit". surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill "the book surpassed our expectations". transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits "transcended the values of their culture". excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others "excels in mathematics". outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before "outdid herself this time". outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition "outstripped other firms in sales".