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Surpass vs Outpace - What's the difference?

surpass | outpace |

As verbs the difference between surpass and outpace

is that surpass is to go beyond, especially in a metaphoric or technical manner; to exceed while outpace is to go faster than someone else; to exceed the pace of.

surpass

English

Verb

(es)
  • To go beyond, especially in a metaphoric or technical manner; to exceed.
    • 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.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=2 citation , passage=“Two or three months more went by?; the public were eagerly awaiting the arrival of this semi-exotic claimant to an English peerage, and sensations, surpassing those of the Tichbourne case, were looked forward to with palpitating interest. […]”}}

    See also

    * exceed * excel * outdo * outstrip

    External links

    * * *

    outpace

    English

    Verb

  • To go faster than someone else; to exceed the pace of.
    • The youngster outpaced his grandfather and ran on ahead.
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 11 , author=Rory Houston , title=Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland , work=RTE Sport citation , page= , passage=Walters outpaced Raio Piiroja from a long ball forward and curled a powerful shot over the crossbar from a tight angle in the 33rd minute.}}