exceeding the normal or permitted extents or limits; immoderate; inordinate
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ex•cess /ɪkˈsɛs, ˈɛksɛs/USA pronunciation n.
adj. [before a noun]
ex•ces•sive•ly, adv. See -cess-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- the fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree:[uncountable* in + ~ + of]The cost was in excess of our original estimate.
- the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another:[countable]an excess of several hundred dollars.
- an extreme amount or degree;
too much:[uncountable]eating to excess. - [countable] immoderate indulgence, as in eating, drinking, etc.
adj. [before a noun]
- more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified;
extra;
surplus: excess baggage.
ex•ces•sive•ly, adv. See -cess-.
ex•ces•sive
(ik ses′iv),USA pronunciation adj.
ex•ces′sive•ly, adv.
ex•ces′sive•ness, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree;
characterized by excess:excessive charges; excessive criticism.
- Middle French
- 1350–1400; Middle English (see excess, -ive); replacing Middle English excessif
ex•ces′sive•ness, n.
- immoderate, extravagant, inordinate, exorbitant, unreasonable.
- reasonable.
ex•cess
(n. ik ses′, ek′ses;adj., v. ek′ses, ik ses′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
v.t.
- the fact of exceeding something else in amount or degree:His strength is in excess of yours.
- the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another:The bill showed an excess of several hundred dollars over the estimate.
- an extreme or excessive amount or degree;
superabundance:to have an excess of energy. - a going beyond what is regarded as customary or proper:to talk to excess.
- immoderate indulgence;
intemperance in eating, drinking, etc.
adj.
- more than or above what is necessary, usual, or specified;
extra:a charge for excess baggage; excess profits.
v.t.
- to dismiss, demote, transfer, or furlough (an employee), esp. as part of a mass layoff.
- Latin excessus departure, digression, equivalent. to exced-, variant stem of excēdere to exceed + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
- Middle English (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) 1350–1400
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged surplus.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged lack, deficiency.
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