adjective
Uncommon
exceeding
ihk-SEE-dihng
Exceeding (adjective) means Very great; extraordinary in degree (an older, more formal usage). Example: “He showed exceeding patience with the new recruits.”
adjective
1
Very great; extraordinary in degree (an older, more formal usage).
"He showed exceeding patience with the new recruits."
"The old professor spoke with exceeding kindness to every nervous student."
"It gave her exceeding joy to see the family together again."
How to use exceeding
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely great — a somewhat old-fashioned way of saying "exceptional."
When to use it
Feels dated or literary compared with the everyday adverb "exceedingly."
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Word forms
- Plural
- exceedings
- Comparative
- more exceeding
- Superlative
- most exceeding
Fill the gap
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He showed _____ patience with the new recruits.
Etymology
From exceed + the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for exceeding
needing
feeding
weeding
seeding
bleeding
breeding
speeding
receding
preceding
proceeding
succeeding
inbreeding
See all rhymes for exceeding →
Frequently asked questions
What does “exceeding” mean?
The word “exceeding” means very great; extraordinary in degree (an older, more formal usage). In plain terms, extremely great — a somewhat old-fashioned way of saying "exceptional.".
How do you pronounce “exceeding”?
“Exceeding” is pronounced ihk-SEE-dihng (/ɪkˈsiːdɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “exceeding” in a sentence?
Here is “exceeding” used in a sentence: “He showed exceeding patience with the new recruits.”
What part of speech is “exceeding”?
“Exceeding” is an adjective.
Is “exceeding” a common word?
“Exceeding” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between exceeding and excessive?
Exceeding, in its older formal sense, means very great or extraordinary in degree, functioning as an intensifying adjective, as in exceeding joy. Excessive means going beyond a reasonable or acceptable limit and usually carries a negative connotation, describing something as too much rather than simply great in degree.
Is exceeding used the same way as exceedingly?
Exceeding as an adjective describing something as extraordinarily great is an older, more formal usage that has largely been replaced in modern English by exceedingly, the adverb meaning extremely. Exceeding also functions today as the present participle of the verb exceed, meaning to go beyond a limit, which is its most common modern use.
Why does exceeding sound old-fashioned in phrases like exceeding great?
Exceeding used as an adjective meaning very great or extraordinary is a formal, older usage found in historical or literary English, such as religious or classical texts. Modern English has largely replaced this construction with exceedingly, so exceeding great now reads as archaic rather than contemporary.
