Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

exceeding

American  
[ik-see-ding] / ɪkˈsi dɪŋ /

adjective

  1. extraordinary; exceptional.


adverb

  1. Archaic. exceedingly.

exceeding British  
/ ɪkˈsiːdɪŋ /

adjective

  1. very great; exceptional or excessive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. an archaic word for exceedingly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of exceeding

First recorded in 1485–95; exceed + -ing 2

Explanation

The adjective exceeding comes from the verb to exceed, which means "go beyond." The massage was given with exceeding care — it was worth every cent. A parent feels exceeding pride at the graduation of a kid. You might also say that they feel "extra," if that helps to clue you into the meaning of exceeding, but it does have a slightly different meaning. If you were to have "extra" pride, then you'd have more than you needed. You might give the "extra" to someone else. To feel exceeding pride, though, means to have more than you might have expected. It's another way of saying something is exceptional in whatever way you mean.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing exceeding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Net-advertising revenue Emarketer expects Meta Platforms to generate this year, exceeding what the market-research firm expects for Google.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

An analyst forecasts Micron’s fiscal third-quarter revenue at $35.1 billion and earnings per share of $20.54, exceeding consensus.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

In 2025 alone, 36 whales entered the area, with groups sometimes exceeding 10 individuals.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

As of late 2024, close to 2,300 gigawatts of wind, solar, storage and other projects were waiting in U.S. interconnection queues, far exceeding the capacity that can realistically be added in the near term.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

By some counts, nearly 250,000 people came to pay their respects, exceeding Cleveland’s total population of 160,000.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow