verb · academic

exceed

/ɪkˈsiːd/ex·CEED

task1

to be greater than a number, amount, or limit

Examples

The proportion of students who prefer online lessons exceeded 40% in 2020.

Exceed can be used with numbers (exceed 50%) or limits (exceed the limit).

When one category exceeds another, use exceed to show it is larger.

Band 8 sentence

The percentage of graduates who found work within six months exceeded 70%, highlighting a strong recovery in the job market.

Collocations

  • exceed + number (exceed 50%)
  • exceed expectations
  • exceed by + amount

Word family

exceeds verb (3rd sg)exceeded verb (past)exceeding verb / adjective

Common mistakes

The number of students exceed 30%.The number of students exceeds 30%.

The sales exceed of 100 units.The sales exceed 100 units.

Say it for a higher band

5go over6be more than7+exceed

Synonyms

surpass

outstrip

Easily confused

excess

Spending exceeded the budget by 5%.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Comparing proportions

Learn it with its set