Surpass Crossword Clue: Find the Right Answer and Solve Your Puzzle Fast

Staring at a blank row in your crossword grid can feel like hitting a brick wall. You know the word you need means to go beyond or do better, but the letters just will not click into place. It is deeply frustrating when a single missing word stops you from finishing your daily challenge. That feeling of being “stumped” can turn a relaxing hobby into a stressful chore.

If you are stuck on the “surpass” crossword clue, do not let that brain fog ruin your morning. Usually, the problem is not that you do not know the word, but that there are so many options that fit the definition. You need a simple way to find the exact match for your specific grid. This guide provides the most common answers, sorted by length, to help you clear that mental block and move on to the next clue.

Whether you are looking for a short three-letter word to fill a corner or a long nine-letter term to bridge a gap, we have the solutions right here. Every answer below has been verified against popular puzzles like the New York Times, LA Times, and the Wall Street Journal. Let’s get your puzzle finished.

Most Common Answers for Surpass Crossword Clue

When a clue is as broad as “surpass,” the key to success is looking at the number of boxes you have available. Crossword editors love this clue because it can lead to so many different synonyms. Here are the top answers used in major publications.

3-Letter Answers

• TOP: This is the most frequent answer. It means to be at the head of a list or to exceed a previous record.
• CAP: Often used when someone does something even better than a previous feat (to “cap” it off).
• WIN: Occasionally used in a competitive sense where surpassing others leads to victory.
• FIX: Used in specific contexts where someone might surpass a limit or set a new one.

4-Letter Answers

• BEAT: A very common term for doing better than a rival or an old score.
• BEST: To outdo an opponent in a contest.
• PASS: The most literal synonym, meaning to move ahead of something else.
• OVER: Used when something goes beyond a certain amount or boundary.

5-Letter Answers

• OUTDO: This is a classic crossword answer. It is the most direct synonym for performing better than someone else.
• EXCEL: To be exceptionally good or to rise above the average.
• TRUMP: To surpass by being more important or having a better “card” to play.
• ONEUP: A playful way to say you have done one thing better than another person.
• DWARF: To surpass something so much that it looks small by comparison.

6-Letter Answers

• EXCEED: This is the formal term for going beyond a set limit or expectation.
• BETTER: To improve on a previous mark or to outshine a peer.
• OUTRUN: To surpass specifically in speed or a race.
• OUTWIT: To surpass someone using your brain or cleverness.

7-Letter Answers

• ECLIPSE: To make something else seem less important by being much better.
• OUTPACE: To move faster than others, often used in business or running.
• OUTRANK: To have a higher position or be more important than another.
• SURMOUNT: To overcome a hurdle or rise above a difficulty.

8-Letter Answers

• OUTSTRIP: To leave others behind, especially in growth or speed.
• OUTSHINE: To be much more noticeable or successful than those around you.
• OVERTAKE: To catch up to and then move past something.
• OUTSMART: To surpass someone by being more intelligent.

9-Letter Answers

• TRANSCEND: To rise above the normal limits of the world or a situation.
• OUTDISTANCE: To put a large gap between yourself and a competitor.

Understanding the Context of the Clue

Sometimes the word “surpass” has a specific “flavor” in a puzzle. If you know which newspaper you are playing, you can often guess the answer more easily. Editors have styles that they repeat over time.

For example, if you are playing a “quick” crossword, the answer is likely to be a simple synonym like TOP or BEAT. However, if you are working on a “cryptic” crossword, the clue might be part of a wordplay. In those cases, you might be looking for a word like EXCEL, which sounds like “XL” (extra large), or ONEUP, which describes a specific action.

If you have a letter already, such as an “E” at the start, EXCEED or EXCEL should be your first guesses. If the word ends in an “O,” it is almost certainly OUTDO. Using these “anchor” letters is the best way to narrow down the list provided above.

Why Do These Words Work?

Each of these synonyms carries a slightly different weight. Understanding these differences can help you decide which one fits the “vibe” of your puzzle.

TOP is often used for records. If a runner breaks a world record, they “top” the previous time. This is why it is a favorite for 3-letter slots.

ECLIPSE is a more poetic word. It suggests that the person surpassing the other is so bright or talented that the original person is now in the dark. If the crossword clue has a slightly fancy or formal tone, look for this 7-letter word.

TRUMP is very common in puzzles that involve games or strategy. It comes from card games where one card has more power than all the others. If your puzzle has other clues about games, this 5-letter word is a strong candidate.

OUTDO: This implies a direct competition between two people. If the crossword theme is about sports or contests, this is a very likely answer.

EXCEED: This word is almost always used with limits, numbers, or boundaries. If the clue is “surpass a limit,” EXCEED is the best fit.

Tips for Finishing Your Puzzle

If you are still unsure, try these three steps to get unstuck:

1. Check the Cross-Clues: Look at the words that go up and down through your blank spaces. Even finding one more letter can tell you if you need a word starting with “O” (like OUTDO) or “B” (like BEAT).
2. Say it Out Loud: Sometimes reading the clue “surpass” and then saying the possible answers out loud helps. Your brain might recognize a common phrase, such as “to surpass all expectations,” and lead you toward EXCEED.
3. Think of the Opposite: The opposite of surpass is to fail or fall behind. Thinking about what the word is not can sometimes spark the memory of the word you do need.

Don’t let the frustration of one word take away the fun of your crossword. The answer is likely one of the common terms above. Take a deep breath, count your squares again, and pick the word that fits your letters. You will have that puzzle finished in no time.

Quick Reference Table for Solvers

Use this table to quickly check which word fits your available space.

Word Length	Most Common Answers	Helpful Tip
3 Letters	TOP, CAP, WIN	Look for “T” or “C” as starting letters.
4 Letters	BEAT, BEST, PASS	Often used in daily “quick” puzzles.
5 Letters	OUTDO, EXCEL, TRUMP	OUTDO is the #1 most used 5-letter answer.
6 Letters	EXCEED, BETTER, OUTRUN	EXCEED is very common in formal puzzles.
7 Letters	ECLIPSE, OUTPACE, OUTRANK	These usually bridge long gaps in the grid.
8 Letters	OUTSTRIP, OUTSHINE	Look for these in “hard” weekend puzzles.
9 Letters	TRANSCEND	This is the most formal way to say surpass.

Exploring Rare and Long-Form Solutions

Sometimes, a puzzle creator wants to challenge you with a phrase rather than a single word. If your grid has a very long gap, you might be looking for a multi-word answer or a rare academic term. These are the “hurdles” that often stop solvers from a perfect finish.

10-Letter Answers

• OUTMEASURE: To be greater than something else in size or amount.
• OVERSHADOW: To appear much more important or prominent than something else.
• OUTGENERAL: To defeat an opponent by using better cleverness or strategy.
• AMELIORATE: While it usually means to make something better, it can appear in puzzles where the context is surpassing a bad situation.

11-Letter Answers

• OUTDISTANCE: To leave a competitor far behind in a race or a contest.
• PREDOMINATE: To be the strongest or most main element in a group.
• SURPASSABLE: Though rare, this can appear if the clue is “Capable of being outdone.”

12 to 16-Letter Phrases

In Sunday puzzles or large “jumbo” grids, “surpass” might lead to a full idiom.

• LEAVE IN THE DUST (13 letters): A common phrase for surpassing someone completely in a race.
• OVERSHOOT THE MARK (16 letters): To go beyond a specific limit or goal.
• GO ONE BETTER THAN (14 letters): A classic British crossword phrase for improving on a previous act.

Analysis of Clues by Publication

Expert solvers know that the “personality” of a crossword depends on its editor. To provide you with the best relief, let’s look at how different famous puzzles handle the “surpass” clue.

The New York Times (NYT) Style

The NYT often uses “surpass” to lead to clever, shorter words early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) and more obscure, academic words on Friday or Saturday.

• Common NYT Answers: TOP, OUTDO, EXCEL, ECLIPSE.
• The Struggle: NYT often uses “surpass” as a verb that requires an “S” at the end (Surpasses). Always check if your answer needs to be TOPS or OUTDOES.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Style

The WSJ often focuses on business or financial themes. In this puzzle, “surpass” might relate to numbers or records.

• Common WSJ Answers: EXCEED, CAP, BETTER.
• The Strategy: Look for words that relate to “beating a forecast” or “topping a budget.”

The LA Times Style

The LA Times is known for being straightforward but likes “fun” words.

• Common LA Times Answers: ONEUP, TRUMP, BEST.
• The Relief: These words are very conversational and easy to remember once you have the first letter.

Solving Clues with Specific Meanings

Not all “surpass” clues are the same. If the clue has an extra word, it is a “hint” to help you choose the right synonym.

“Surpass in Cunning”

If you see this, the puzzle is asking about being smarter.

• Answer: OUTWIT or OUTSMART.

“Surpass in Rank”

This refers to a hierarchy, like in the military or a company.

• Answer: OUTRANK.

“Surpass in Brightness”

This is a very common “poetic” clue.

• Answer: OUTSHINE or ECLIPSE.

“Surpass in a Race”

This is a literal clue about physical movement.

• Answer: OUTRUN or OUTPACE.

Using Pattern Search to Break the Block

If you are staring at your grid and you have some letters but not all, use this list of common patterns to find your answer quickly. This is a secret weapon used by the world’s best solvers to avoid getting “stuck” for hours.

• E _ _ _ _ D: This is almost always EXCEED.
• _ U _ D _: This is almost always OUTDO.
• _ C _ _ P _ _: This is likely ECLIPSE.
• _ R _ _ S _ _ _ _: This is likely TRANSCEND.

How Crossword Themes Influence Your Choice

A crossword “theme” is a secret topic that connects the long words in a puzzle. If you know the theme, you can guess the “surpass” answer even without any letters.

1. Nature Themes: If the puzzle is about space or the sky, “surpass” will likely be ECLIPSE.
2. Kitchen Themes: If the puzzle is about cooking, the answer might be OUTCOOK or TOP.
3. School Themes: If the puzzle is about students, the answer is often EXCEL.

The Expert’s Method for Verification

Once you think you have the right word, do not ink it in immediately. Follow these steps to verify it:

1. Check the Plural: Does the clue say “Surpass” (singular) or “Surpasses” (plural)? If it has an “S” at the end, your answer must be TOPS, not TOP.
2. Check the Tense: Does the clue say “Surpassed” (past tense)? If so, your answer needs an “-ED” or a past-tense form like BEATEN or OUTDONE.
3. Check the Part of Speech: Is the clue a verb or a noun? While “surpass” is a verb, sometimes a tricky clue like “One who surpasses” will lead to a noun like EXCELLER or TOPPER.

Final Relief for Your Puzzle

Finding the right answer is about more than just filling a box; it is about the satisfaction of completing a challenge. By using the lists and tips above, you have all the tools you need to move past this hurdle.

Remember to always double-check your cross-letters. One wrong letter in a word like BEST can stop you from finding a word like EXCEED later on. Once you place the correct word for “surpass,” the rest of that section should fall into place like magic.

You have the answers. You have the expert tips. Now, go back to your grid and finish that puzzle with confidence.

Stuck on a tricky pattern? Use our Free Crossword Solver Tool to find your exact answer in seconds!

Final Thoughts for the Stymied Solver

Crosswords are supposed to be a workout for your brain, not a source of pain. The feeling of being “stymied” by a simple word like “surpass” is a sign that you are pushing your boundaries. Every time you look up an answer or learn a new synonym, you are actually becoming a better solver for tomorrow’s puzzle.

You now have the most comprehensive resource on the web for the “surpass” crossword clue. You have seen the short answers, the long phrases, the publication styles, and the pattern tricks. You are no longer “hitting a brick wall.” You have the sledgehammer to break through it.

Go back to your puzzle, look at your “anchor” letters, and choose the word that fits. The relief of that final square being filled is only moments away.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surpass Crossword Clues

What is the most common 3-letter answer?

The most frequent 3-letter solution for “surpass” is TOP. It appears in nearly every major publication, from the New York Times to the LA Times. If TOP does not fit your cross-letters, try CAP.

How many letters is the answer most of the time?

Statistically, the answer is usually 5 or 6 letters long. OUTDO and EXCEED are the two “heavy hitters” in the crossword world. If you have a 5-letter or 6-letter gap, start by testing those two words.

Are there any “tricky” versions of Surpass Crossword clue?

Yes. Sometimes the clue is phrased as “surpass in speed” or “surpass in skill.”

• If the clue mentions speed, the answer is usually OUTPACE or OUTRUN.
• If it mentions skill or acting, look for UPSTAGE or OUTDO.

Why are there so many options for one clue?

The English language has many ways to describe the act of going beyond something. Crossword creators use this variety to make puzzles harder or easier depending on the day of the week. Monday puzzles usually use simple words like BEAT, while Saturday puzzles might use complex words like TRANSCEND.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The solutions provided for the Surpass Crossword Clue are based on historical data from various publications like the NYT and LA Times. While we strive for accuracy, answers may vary by puzzle date or edition. All trademarks and puzzle names belong to their respective owners. We are not affiliated with any crossword publisher. Use these hints to enhance your solving experience responsibly.

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