Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state or amount that is more than what is needed, desired, or permitted: "Excess" refers to the part of something that surpasses a limit, standard, or sufficiency.
   • Immoderate or extreme behavior: "Excess" can also describe a lack of restraint, particularly in consumption or indulgence.

2. Adjective:

   • More than is usual, necessary, or specified: When used before a noun, "excess" describes something that is extra or surplus.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The company donated its financial excess to charity. (The company gave away the money it did not need.)
  • He regretted the excess of the previous night's celebration. (He regretted his lack of restraint during the celebration.)
  • Pour off any excess from the top of the bottle. (Remove any liquid that is more than needed.)

• Adjective:

  • Passengers must pay for excess baggage. (Passengers must pay for luggage that is over the allowed limit.)
  • The body stores excess energy as fat. (The body stores energy that is not immediately used.)

Advanced Usage

• "In excess of": More than a particular amount.

  • The repairs cost in excess of five thousand dollars. (The repairs cost more than five thousand dollars.)

• "To excess": To an extreme or immoderate degree.

  • He drinks to excess. (He drinks too much alcohol.)

Variants and Related Words

• Excessive (adj): More than is necessary, normal, or desirable; too much.
  • The plan was criticized for its excessive cost.
• Excessively (adv): To a greater degree than is necessary or normal.
  • The room was excessively decorated.

Synonyms

• Surplus (n): An amount of something left over when requirements have been met.
• Superfluity (n): An unnecessarily or excessively large amount or number of something.
• Overindulgence (n): The action or fact of having too much of something enjoyable.

Antonyms

• Deficit (n): The amount by which something, especially a sum of money, is too small.
• Insufficiency (n): The condition of being inadequate.
• Shortage (n): A state or situation in which something needed cannot be obtained in sufficient amounts.

Related Phrases

• Carry something to excess: To do something to an extreme degree.
  • His enthusiasm for detail was carried to excess. (His attention to detail was extreme.)
• Excess capacity: The situation where a firm or economy can produce more than it is currently selling.
  • The factory was closed due to excess capacity.

Adjective

1. more than is needed, desired, or required
   • trying to lose excess weight
   • found some extra change lying on the dresser
   • yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
   • skills made redundant by technological advance
   • sleeping in the spare room
   • supernumerary ornamentation
   • it was supererogatory of her to gloat
   • delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
   • extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
   • surplus cheese distributed to the needy

Noun

1. excessive indulgence
   • the child was spoiled by overindulgence
2. the state of being more than full
3. immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
4. a quantity much larger than is needed