Surpass vs. Pass — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 16, 2024
To surpass is to go beyond or exceed expectations or limits, emphasizing a significant achievement over others, while to pass means to move beyond or ahead of something, often meeting only the minimum requirement.
Difference Between Surpass and Pass
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
"Surpass" implies exceeding a certain standard or overtaking others in quality or performance, suggesting a level of superiority or excellence. On the other hand, "pass" generally refers to the act of moving by or going beyond a particular point or person, without necessarily implying excellence or comparison.
When one surpasses an expectation or record, they not only meet the basic requirements but also add a remarkable margin. Whereas, to simply pass an exam or a milestone indicates meeting the required standards without exceeding them.
In competitive contexts, to surpass another is to perform at a level higher than that of competitors, often resulting in recognition or awards. In contrast, to pass someone in a race simply means to overtake them, focusing on the change in position rather than the extent of excellence.
"Surpass" often carries a qualitative connotation, emphasizing the exceptional nature of an achievement or quality. Meanwhile, "pass" can have a more neutral or quantitative aspect, where the primary focus is on the movement from one state or location to another.
Educational settings illustrate these differences well: surpassing expectations in a project means delivering work that is above and beyond what was required, while passing the project means achieving just enough to move on to the next phase or grade.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Connotation
Exceeding, going beyond
Meeting the minimum, adequate
Implication
Superiority, exceptional quality
Sufficient achievement
Usage Context
Often used in competitive or qualitative assessments
Common in education, transport, and general movement
Focus
On the degree of excellence
On the act of moving past
Outcome
Typically implies higher recognition or achievement
Often just enough to achieve a goal or requirement
Compare with Definitions
Surpass
To exceed or go beyond a set limit or standard.
The new model surpasses its predecessor in both speed and efficiency.
Pass
To move past or travel beyond a certain point.
The train passes through several small towns.
Surpass
To outperform or achieve more than expected.
The sequel surpassed expectations at the box office.
Pass
To be approved or successful in an examination or test.
He passed the final exam with a satisfactory grade.
Surpass
To do better than others or be superior.
She surpassed all her colleagues in achieving the highest sales.
Pass
To surpass a minimum required score or level.
She just managed to pass the required threshold.
Surpass
To exceed normal limits or boundaries.
His dedication to research surpasses that of his peers.
Pass
To move ahead or proceed in a sequence.
The bill passed the Senate and moved to the House.
Surpass
To overcome or be greater than something.
His latest work has surpassed the old masters in intricacy.
Pass
To go beyond a certain phase or stage.
The discussion passed the initial objections.
Surpass
Surpass was a short-lived Wrigley antacid gum. Shipments of Surpass to retail outlets were discontinued in March 2003 due to lack of popularity.
Pass
To move on or ahead; proceed
The train passed through fields of wheat.
Surpass
To do more than or be superior to
Surpassed her classmates in academic honors.
Pass
To extend; run
The river passes through our land.
Surpass
To be beyond the limit, powers, or capacity of; transcend
Misery that surpasses comprehension.
Pass
To move by or in front of something
The band passed and the crowd cheered.
Surpass
To be greater than, as in degree or quality; exceed
The cost of the project surpassed its budget projections.
Pass
To move past another vehicle
The sports car passed on the right.
Surpass
(transitive) To go beyond or exceed (something) in an adjudicative or literal sense.
The former problem student surpassed his instructor's expectations and scored top marks on his examination.
The heavy rains threatened to surpass the capabilities of the levee, endangering the town on the other side.
Pass
To gain passage despite obstacles
Pass through difficult years.
Surpass
To go beyond in anything good or bad; to exceed; to excel.
This would surpassCommon revenge and interrupt his joy.
Pass
To move past in time; elapse
The days passed quickly.
Surpass
Distinguish oneself;
She excelled in math
Pass
To be transferred from one to another; circulate
The wine passed around the table.
Surpass
Be or do something to a greater degree;
Her performance surpasses that of any other student I know
She outdoes all other athletes
This exceeds all my expectations
This car outperforms all others in its class
Pass
(Sports) To transfer a ball or puck to a teammate.
Surpass
Pass by;
A black limousine passed by when she looked out the window
He passed his professor in the hall
One line of soldiers surpassed the other
Pass
To be communicated or exchanged between persons
Loud words passed in the corridor.
Surpass
Go beyond;
Their loyalty exceeds their national bonds
Pass
To be transferred or conveyed to another by will or deed
The title passed to the older heir.
Pass
To undergo transition from one condition, form, quality, or characteristic to another
Daylight passed into darkness.
Pass
To come to an end
My anger suddenly passed. The headache finally passed.
Pass
To cease to exist; die. Often used with on
The patient passed on during the night.
Pass
To happen; take place
Wanted to know what had passed at the meeting.
Pass
To be allowed to happen without notice or challenge
Let their rude remarks pass.
Pass
Sports & Games To decline one's turn to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
Pass
To decline an offer
When we offered him dessert, he passed.
Pass
To undergo an examination or a trial with favorable results.
Pass
To serve as a barely acceptable substitute
The spare tire was nearly bald but would pass until we bought a new one.
Pass
To be accepted as a member of a group by denying one's own ancestry or background.
Pass
To be approved or adopted
The motion to adjourn passed.
Pass
To make a decision
To pass upon a legal question.
Pass
To convey property to an heir or heirs
To pass according to the terms of the will.
Pass
(Medicine) To be discharged from a bodily part
The patient had a lot of pain when the kidney stone passed.
Pass
(Sports) To thrust or lunge in fencing.
Pass
To go by without stopping; proceed beyond or leave behind
The bus passed a gas station.
Pass
To go across; go through
We passed the border into Mexico.
Pass
To allow to go by or elapse; spend
He passed his winter in Vermont.
Pass
To go by without paying attention to; disregard or ignore
If you pass the new photographs in the collection, you'll miss some outstanding ones.
Pass
To fail to pay (a dividend).
Pass
To go beyond; surpass
The inheritance passed my wildest dreams.
Pass
To undergo (a trial or examination) with favorable results
She passed every test.
Pass
To cause or allow to go through a trial, test, or examination successfully
The instructor passed all the candidates.
Pass
To cause to move
We passed our hands over the fabric.
Pass
To cause to move into a certain position
Pass a ribbon around a package.
Pass
To cause to move as part of a process
Pass liquid through a filter.
Pass
To cause to go by
The sergeant passed his troops before the grandstand.
Pass
To allow to cross a barrier
The border guard passed the tourists.
Pass
(Baseball) To walk (a batter).
Pass
To maneuver (the bull) by means of a pase in bullfighting.
Pass
To cause to be transferred from one to another; circulate
They passed the news quickly.
Pass
To hand over to someone else
Please pass the bread.
Pass
(Sports) To transfer (a ball, for example) to a teammate, as by throwing.
Pass
To cause to be accepted; circulate fraudulently
Pass counterfeit money.
Pass
(Law) To convey (property) to an heir or heirs
To pass an estate.
Pass
(Medicine) To discharge (a waste product, for example) from a bodily part.
Pass
(Medicine) To introduce (an instrument) into a bodily cavity.
Pass
To approve; adopt
The legislature passed the bill.
Pass
To be sanctioned, ratified, or approved by
The bill passed the House of Representatives.
Pass
To pronounce; utter
Pass judgment.
Pass sentence on an offender.
Pass
The act of passing; passage.
Pass
A way, such as a narrow gap between mountains, that affords passage around, over, or through a barrier.
Pass
A permit, ticket, or authorization to come and go at will.
Pass
A free ticket entitling one to transportation or admission.
Pass
Written leave of absence from military duty.
Pass
A passing grade, especially when graded using a pass-fail grading system.
Pass
A sweep or run, as by an aircraft, over or toward an area or target.
Pass
A single complete cycle of operations, as by a machine or computer program.
Pass
A condition or situation, often critical in nature; a predicament
Contract negotiations that had come to an emotional pass.
Pass
A motion of the hand or the waving of a wand
The magician made a pass over the hat.
Pass
(Sports) A transfer of a ball or puck between teammates.
Pass
(Sports) A lunge or thrust in fencing.
Pass
(Baseball) A base on balls.
Pass
Sports & Games A refusal to bid, draw, bet, compete, or play.
Pass
(Games) A winning throw of the dice in craps.
Pass
A pase in bullfighting.
Pass
To change place.
Pass
(intransitive) To move or be moved from one place to another.
They passed from room to room.
Pass
(transitive) To go past, by, over, or through; to proceed from one side to the other of; to move past.
You will pass a house on your right.
Pass
(ditransitive) To cause to move or go; to send; to transfer from one person, place, or condition to another.
The waiter passed biscuits and cheese.
John passed Suzie a note.
The torch was passed from hand to hand.
Pass
To take a turn with (a line, gasket, etc.), as around a sail in furling, and make secure.
Pass
(sport) To make various kinds of movement.
Pass
(intransitive) To go from one person to another.
Pass
(transitive) To put in circulation; to give currency to.
Pass counterfeit money
Pass
To cause to obtain entrance, admission, or conveyance.
Pass a person into a theater or over a railroad
Pass
To put through a sieve.
When it's finished cooking, you should pass the sauce to get rid of any lumps.
Pass
To change in state or status
Pass
(intransitive) To progress from one state to another; to advance.
He passed from youth into old age.
Pass
(intransitive) To depart, to cease, to come to an end.
At first, she was worried, but that feeling soon passed.
Pass
(intransitive) To die.
His grandmother passed yesterday.
Pass
To achieve a successful outcome from.
He attempted the examination, but did not expect to pass.
Of the Ancient Wonders, only the pyramids have passed the test of time.
Pass
To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to become valid or effective; to obtain the formal sanction of (a legislative body).
Despite the efforts of the opposition, the bill passed.
The bill passed both houses of Congress.
The bill passed the Senate, but did not pass in the House.
Pass
To be conveyed or transferred by will, deed, or other instrument of conveyance.
The estate passes by the third clause in Mr Smith's deed to his son.
When the old king passed away with only a daughter as an heir, the throne passed to a woman for the first time in centuries.
Pass
(transitive) To cause to advance by stages of progress; to carry on with success through an ordeal, examination, or action; specifically, to give legal or official sanction to; to ratify; to enact; to approve as valid and just.
He passed the bill through the committee.
Pass
To make a judgment on or upon a person or case.
Pass
(transitive) To utter; to pronounce; to pledge.
Pass
(intransitive) To change from one state to another (without the implication of progression).
Pass
To move through time.
Pass
To elapse, to be spent.
Their vacation passed pleasantly.
Pass
To spend.
What will we do to pass the time?
Pass
(transitive) To go by without noticing; to omit attention to; to take no note of; to disregard.
Pass
(intransitive) To continue.
Pass
(intransitive) To proceed without hindrance or opposition.
You're late, but I'll let it pass.
Pass
(transitive) To live through; to have experience of; to undergo; to suffer.
Pass
(intransitive) To happen.
It will soon come to pass.
Pass
To be accepted.
Pass
To be tolerated as a substitute for something else, to "do".
It isn't ideal, but it will pass.
Pass
To refrain from doing something.
Pass
(intransitive) To decline something that is offered or available.
He asked me to go to the cinema with him, but I think I'll pass.
Pass
(transitive) To reject; to pass up.
Pass
(intransitive) To decline or not attempt to answer a question.
I haven't any idea of the answer, so I'll have to pass.
Pass
(intransitive) In turn-based games, to decline to play in one's turn.
Pass
In euchre, to decline to make the trump.
Pass
To do or be better.
Pass
To go beyond bounds; to surpass; to be in excess.
Pass
(transitive) To transcend; to surpass; to excel; to exceed.
Pass
To take heed, to have an interest, to care.
Pass
An opening, road, or track, available for passing; especially, one through or over some dangerous or otherwise impracticable barrier such as a mountain range; a passageway; a defile; a ford.
Mountain pass
Pass
A channel connecting a river or body of water to the sea, for example at the mouth (delta) of a river.
The passes of the Mississippi
Pass
A single movement, especially of a hand, at, over, or along anything.
Pass
A single passage of a tool over something, or of something over a tool.
Pass
An attempt.
My first pass at a career of writing proved unsuccessful.
Pass
Success in an examination or similar test.
I gained three passes at A-level, in mathematics, French, and English literature.
Pass
(fencing) A thrust or push; an attempt to stab or strike an adversary.
Pass
(figuratively) A thrust; a sally of wit.
Pass
(sports) The act of moving the ball or puck from one player to another.
Pass
(rail transport) A passing of two trains in the same direction on a single track, when one is put into a siding to let the other overtake it.
Pass
Permission or license to pass, or to go and come.
Pass
A document granting permission to pass or to go and come; a passport; a ticket permitting free transit or admission
A railroad pass; a theater pass; a military pass
Pass
(baseball) An intentional walk.
Smith was given a pass after Jones' double.
Pass
(sports) The act of overtaking; an overtaking manoeuvre.
Pass
The state of things; condition; predicament; impasse.
Pass
(obsolete) Estimation; character.
Pass
(cookery) The area in a restaurant kitchen where the finished dishes are passed from the chefs to the waiting staff.
Pass
An act of declining to play one's turn in a game, often by saying the word "pass".
A pass would have seen her win the game, but instead she gave a wrong answer and lost a point, putting her in second place.
Pass
(computing) A run through a document as part of a translation, compilation or reformatting process.
Most Pascal compilers process source code in a single pass.
Pass
A password (especially one for a restricted-access website).
Anyone want to trade passes?
Pass
To go; to move; to proceed; to be moved or transferred from one point to another; to make a transit; - usually with a following adverb or adverbal phrase defining the kind or manner of motion; as, to pass on, by, out, in, etc.; to pass swiftly, directly, smoothly, etc.; to pass to the rear, under the yoke, over the bridge, across the field, beyond the border, etc.
On high behests his angels to and froPassed frequent.
Sweet sounds rose slowly through their mouths,And from their bodies passed.
Pass
To move or be transferred from one state or condition to another; to change possession, condition, or circumstances; to undergo transition; as, the business has passed into other hands.
Others, dissatisfied with what they have, . . . pass from just to unjust.
Pass
To move beyond the range of the senses or of knowledge; to pass away; hence, to disappear; to vanish; to depart; specifically, to depart from life; to die.
Disturb him not, let him pass paceably.
Beauty is a charm, but soon the charm will pass.
The passing of the sweetest soulThat ever looked with human eyes.
Pass
To move or to come into being or under notice; to come and go in consciousness; hence, to take place; to occur; to happen; to come; to occur progressively or in succession; to be present transitorily.
So death passed upon all men.
Our own consciousness of what passes within our own mind.
Pass
To go by or glide by, as time; to elapse; to be spent; as, their vacation passed pleasantly.
Now the time is far passed.
Pass
To go from one person to another; hence, to be given and taken freely; as, clipped coin will not pass; to obtain general acceptance; to be held or regarded; to circulate; to be current; - followed by for before a word denoting value or estimation.
False eloquence passeth only where true is not understood.
This will not pass for a fault in him.
Pass
To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to validity or effectiveness; to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject; to receive legislative sanction; to be enacted; as, the resolution passed; the bill passed both houses of Congress.
Pass
To go through any inspection or test successfully; to be approved or accepted; as, he attempted the examination, but did not expect to pass.
Pass
To be suffered to go on; to be tolerated; hence, to continue; to live along.
Pass
To go unheeded or neglected; to proceed without hindrance or opposition; as, we let this act pass.
Pass
To go beyond bounds; to surpass; to be in excess.
Pass
To take heed; to care.
As for these silken-coated slaves, I pass not.
Pass
To go through the intestines.
Pass
To be conveyed or transferred by will, deed, or other instrument of conveyance; as, an estate passes by a certain clause in a deed.
Pass
To make a lunge or pass; to thrust.
Pass
To decline to play in one's turn; in euchre, to decline to make the trump.
She would not play, yet must not pass.
Pass
To go by, beyond, over, through, or the like; to proceed from one side to the other of; as, to pass a house, a stream, a boundary, etc.
She loved me for the dangers I had passed.
Pass
To go by without noticing; to omit attention to; to take no note of; to disregard.
Please you that I may pass This doing.
I pass their warlike pomp, their proud array.
Pass
To cause to move or go; to send; to transfer from one person, place, or condition to another; to transmit; to deliver; to hand; to make over; as, the waiter passed bisquit and cheese; the torch was passed from hand to hand.
I had only time to pass my eye over the medals.
Waller passed over five thousand horse and foot by Newbridge.
Pass
To transcend; to surpass; to excel; to exceed.
And strive to pass . . . Their native music by her skillful art.
Whose tender powerPasses the strength of storms in their most desolate hour.
Pass
To cause to pass the lips; to utter; to pronounce; hence, to promise; to pledge; as, to pass sentence.
Father, thy word is passed.
Pass
To emit from the bowels; to evacuate.
Pass
To go successfully through, as an examination, trail, test, etc.; to obtain the formal sanction of, as a legislative body; as, he passed his examination; the bill passed the senate.
Pass
To cause to advance by stages of progress; to carry on with success through an ordeal, examination, or action; specifically, to give legal or official sanction to; to ratify; to enact; to approve as valid and just; as, he passed the bill through the committee; the senate passed the law.
Pass
To take a turn with (a line, gasket, etc.), as around a sail in furling, and make secure.
Pass
To make, as a thrust, punto, etc.
Pass
An opening, road, or track, available for passing; especially, one through or over some dangerous or otherwise impracticable barrier; a passageway; a defile; a ford; as, a mountain pass.
"Try not the pass!" the old man said.
Pass
A thrust or push; an attempt to stab or strike an adversary.
Pass
A movement of the hand over or along anything; the manipulation of a mesmerist.
Pass
A single passage of a bar, rail, sheet, etc., between the rolls.
Pass
State of things; condition; predicament.
Have his daughters brought him to this pass.
Matters have been brought to this pass.
Pass
Permission or license to pass, or to go and come; a psssport; a ticket permitting free transit or admission; as, a railroad or theater pass; a military pass.
A ship sailing under the flag and pass of an enemy.
Pass
Fig.: a thrust; a sally of wit.
Pass
Estimation; character.
Common speech gives him a worthy pass.
Pass
A part; a division.
Pass
In football, hockey, and other team sports, a transfer of the ball, puck, etc., to another player of one's own team, usually at some distance. In American football, the pass is through the air by an act of throwing the ball.
Pass
(baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls;
He worked the pitcher for a base on balls
Pass
(military) a written leave of absence;
He had a pass for three days
Pass
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate;
The coach sent in a passing play on third and long
Pass
The location in a range of mountains of a geological formation that is lower than the surrounding peaks;
We got through the pass before it started to snow
Pass
Any authorization to pass or go somewhere;
The pass to visit had a strict time limit
Pass
A document indicating permission to do something without restrictions;
The media representatives had special passes
Pass
A flight or run by an aircraft over a target;
The plane turned to make a second pass
Pass
A bad or difficult situation or state of affairs
Pass
A difficult juncture;
A pretty pass
Matters came to a head yesterday
Pass
One complete cycle of operations (as by a computer);
It was not possible to complete the computation in a single pass
Pass
You advance to the next round in a tournament without playing an opponent;
He had a bye in the first round
Pass
A permit to enter or leave a military installation;
He had to show his pass in order to get out
Pass
A complementary (free) ticket;
The start got passes for his family
Pass
A usually brief attempt;
He took a crack at it
I gave it a whirl
Pass
(sports) the act of throwing the ball to another member of your team;
The pass was fumbled
Pass
Success in satisfying a test or requirement;
His future depended on his passing that test
He got a pass in introductory chemistry
Pass
Go across or through;
We passed the point where the police car had parked
A terrible thought went through his mind
Pass
Pass by;
A black limousine passed by when she looked out the window
He passed his professor in the hall
One line of soldiers surpassed the other
Pass
Make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation;
They passed the amendment
We cannot legislate how people's spend their free time
Pass
Pass by;
Three years elapsed
Pass
Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Pass
Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point;
Service runs all the way to Cranbury
His knowledge doesn't go very far
My memory extends back to my fourth year of life
The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets
Pass
Travel past;
The sports car passed all the trucks
Pass
Come to pass;
What is happening?
The meeting took place off without an incidence
Nothing occurred that seemed important
Pass
Go unchallenged; be approved;
The bill cleared the House
Pass
Pass (time) in a specific way;
How are you spending your summer vacation?
Pass
Guide or pass over something;
He ran his eyes over her body
She ran her fingers along the carved figurine
He drew her hair through his fingers
Pass
Transmit information ;
Please communicate this message to all employees
Pass
Disappear gradually;
The pain eventually passed off
Pass
Go successfully through a test or a selection process;
She passed the new Jersey Bar Exam and can practice law now
Pass
Go beyond;
She exceeded our expectations
She topped her performance of last year
Pass
Accept or judge as acceptable;
The teacher passed the student although he was weak
Pass
Allow to go without comment or censure;
The insult passed as if unnoticed
Pass
Transfer to another; of rights or property;
Our house passed under his official control
Pass
Pass into a specified state or condition;
He sank into Nirvana
Pass
Be identified, regarded, accepted, or mistaken for someone or something else; as by denying one's own ancestry or background;
He could pass as his twin brother
She passed as a White woman even though her grandfather was Black
Pass
Throw (a ball) to another player;
Smith passed
Pass
Be inherited by;
The estate fell to my sister
The land returned to the family
The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead
Pass
Cause to pass;
She passed around the plates
Pass
Grant authorization or clearance for;
Clear the manuscript for publication
The rock star never authorized this slanderous biography
Pass
Pass from physical life and lose all all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life;
She died from cancer
They children perished in the fire
The patient went peacefully
Pass
Eliminate from the body;
Pass a kidney stone
Pass
Of advancing the ball by throwing it;
A team with a good passing attack
A pass play
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to pass legislation?
It refers to the process where legislation is approved by a governing body and becomes law.
What does it mean to pass a course?
It means to achieve the necessary marks or credits to successfully complete the course.
How can one company surpass another in sales?
A company surpasses another by achieving higher sales figures and capturing a greater market share.
What does it mean to surpass someone in a competition?
It means achieving a performance or score that is significantly higher than that of the competitor.
How do you use surpass in a sentence regarding personal achievement?
"He surpassed his own record by lifting even more weight this year."
Is passing a test the same as excelling in it?
No, passing a test means meeting the minimum required standards, while excelling means performing exceptionally well, often surpassing others.
What does "barely passing" imply?
It implies achieving just the minimum required to be considered successful or adequate.
Can a product surpass market expectations?
Yes, a product can surpass market expectations if it performs better than anticipated by consumers or analysts.
Can an athlete surpass a world record?
Yes, an athlete can surpass a world record by achieving a performance better than the existing record.
What does passing a car on the highway involve?
It involves overtaking and moving ahead of the car on the highway.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Ketosis vs. Lipolysis
Next Comparison
Screaming vs. ShriekAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
