Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree; exceptional; extraordinary: Used to describe something that greatly exceeds normal limits or standards in quality, amount, or intensity.
   • Exceeding or surpassing usual limits, especially in excellence: Emphasizes a quality that is superior and stands out from the ordinary.

Usage

The adjective "surpassing" is typically used attributively (before a noun) to modify and emphasize the exceptional nature of the noun it describes. It is a formal and literary term.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The violinist gave a surpassing performance that left the audience in awe.
  • Her surpassing intelligence was evident from a very young age.
  • They made surpassing efforts to complete the project on time.

Advanced Usage

• "of surpassing beauty/quality": A common collocation used to indicate that something is exceptionally beautiful or of exceptionally high quality.
  • The palace is a monument of surpassing beauty.
  • This wine is of surpassing quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Surpass (verb): To exceed, be greater than, or go beyond.
  • Her skills surpass those of her competitors.
• Surpassingly (adverb): In a surpassing manner; extremely.
  • The landscape was surpassingly beautiful.

Synonyms

• Exceptional: Unusually good; standing out.
• Extraordinary: Very unusual or remarkable.
• Prodigious: Remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
• Transcendent: Surpassing the ordinary; exceptional.

Antonyms

• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
• Average: Typical or common.
• Mediocre: Of only moderate quality; not very good.

Adjective

1. far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree
   • a night of exceeding darkness
   • an exceptional memory
   • olympian efforts to save the city from bankruptcy
   • the young Mozart's prodigious talents
2. exceeding or surpassing usual limits especially in excellence