surpass

verb

Etymology: From Middle French surpasser (“to pass beyond”). By surface analysis, sur- + pass. Displaced native Old English oferstīgan (literally “to climb over”).

1. 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.”