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# surpass

verb (surpass, surpasses, surpassed, surpassing)

«surpass» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To surpass is to be better or greater than someone or something: she surpassed her own best score. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#m1)
2. (formal) To surpass is to go beyond what was expected or hoped: the result surpassed our hopes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#m2)

### In the lessons

Formal and exam voice; in sports and school, to surpass a record or a target. In maths, «the sales surpassed 500» means they became more than 500. Plain words: beat, do better than, be more than, go over.

### Examples

- Her score surpassed everyone else's in the class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x1)
- The tower surpassed all the other buildings in height. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x2)
- The school fair surpassed our hopes and raised lots of money. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x3)
- He surpassed his personal best in the 100 metres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x4)
- The film surpassed all the others in ticket sales. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x5)
- If the class raises 300 pounds, it will surpass its goal of 250. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x6)
- No one could surpass him in depth of feeling or in readiness of intellect. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/#x7)

### Note

Formal; in speech say «beat» or «be more than». It is followed directly by an object: «surpass the record», not «surpass over the record». In maths, «surpass 50» means «more than 50» (greater, not equal).

## In Jewish tradition

Daniel's surpassing spirit shows wisdom as a gift from God, not just cleverness.

**Interpretation.** Tradition sees Daniel as a faithful Jew who rose in a foreign court yet stayed loyal to God.

### Examples

- This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was surpassing, stood before thee; and the appearance thereof was terrible. (Writings DAN.2.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/surpass/#x1)
- I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and surpassing wisdom is found in thee. (Writings DAN.5.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/surpass/#x2)
- Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the presidents and the satraps, because a surpassing spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. (Writings DAN.6.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/surpass/#x3)

### Note

Formal; in speech say «beat» or «be more than». It is followed directly by an object: «surpass the record», not «surpass over the record». In maths, «surpass 50» means «more than 50» (greater, not equal).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «surpass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/surpass/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«surpass» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/surpass.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «surpass» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/surpass/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«surpass» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/surpass.html) on Mova free.