sərˈpas, -paa(ə)s, -pais, -pȧs transitive verb
Etymology: Middle French surpasser, from sur- + passer to pass, from Old French — more at pass
1. : to become better, greater, or stronger than : exceed in quality, degree, or performance : become superior to : go beyond in action or achievement
the reality surpassed all expectations
he surpassed all his contemporaries in skill
2. : to pass beyond : go over : overstep
nor let the sea surpass his bounds — John Milton
3. : to transcend the reach, capacity, or powers of : go beyond the bounds or limits of : become more than can be attained, achieved, or apprehended by
her beauty surpasses all description
the task surpassed his skill
4. : to extend beyond or above
mountain masses … surpassed the level of perpetual snow — Nature
Synonyms: see exceed