2 syllables: ex, ceeds. Stress on ceeds.
ik-SEEDZ
/ɪˈksidz/
exceeds is pronounced ik-SEEDZ (/ɪˈksidz/). It has two syllables (ex-ceeds), with the stress on "ceeds". Exceeds is a verb meaning to go beyond a set limit or standard. It typically appears in formal or evaluative contexts, signaling that performance, quantity, or standards surpass what is required or expected. The form is third-person singular and past tense alike (exceeds, exceeded).
Exceeds is a verb meaning to go beyond a set limit or standard. It typically appears in formal or evaluative contexts, signaling that performance, quantity, or standards surpass what is required or expected. The form is third-person singular and past tense alike (exceeds, exceeded).
"The final score exceeds the previous record by ten points."
"Her generosity exceeds what anyone could have imagined."
"Annual demand for the product exceeds supply in most months."
It’s pronounced /ɪkˈsiːdz/. The first syllable is a short /ɪ/ as in in, the second syllable carries the main stress with /siː/ (long E), and the final sound is the voiced /dz/ (like the “dz” in 'beds' with a Z and D blend). Your mouth starts with a neutral /ɪ/ position, then raises the tongue to the alveolar ridge for /siː/, and finally finishes with a quick /dz/. Practice saying “ex- CEEDS” with emphasis on the second syllable.
Common errors include pronouncing the second syllable with a short /e/ or misplacing the stress (e.g., /ˌɛkˈsiːdz/ or /ɪkˈsɪdz/). Another frequent slip is an unvoiced final consonant or blending without the /d/ onset of /dz/ (saying /ɪkˈsiːs/). Correction: ensure the stressed /siː/ has the long E and that the final is a clear, voiced /dz/. Record yourself, compare to /ɪkˈsiːdz/, and practice the trailing /dz/ blend with light vowel release.
In US/UK/AU, the core /ɪkˈsiːdz/ remains, but rhoticity affects surrounding vowels in connected speech. US tends to retain a stronger rhotic link and crisper /dʒ/-like release for some speakers, UK often has a less pronounced r-coloring and crisper vowel separation, while Australian speech may show slightly more centralized vowel qualities and a smoother intonation with less vowel reduction. The stressed /siː/ is consistent, but the surrounding vowels may shift: US /ɪ/ vs UK /ɪ/ and AU near /ɪ/ with a flatter pitch. Listen for the clear /dz/ ending in all variants.
The difficulty lies in the word-internal consonant cluster and the final voiced alveolar affricate /dz/. You must maintain the long /iː/ in the stressed syllable while smoothly transitioning from /siː/ to /dz/. It requires precise tongue placement at the alveolar ridge for /s/ and /d/ plus a quick, voiced release to /dz/. Also, neutralizing the preceding /ɪ/ to a crisp onset before /siː/ helps clarity. Practicing the /siːdz/ sequence in isolation, then in sentences, boosts accuracy.
Yes. The final /dz/ is a voiced affricate that can be swallowed or devoiced in fast speech, leading to confusion with /s/ or /z/. Emphasize the blend zh-like release with a brief voicing that clearly ends the word. You’ll hear the /dz/ as a single phonetically distinct unit, not two separate sounds. This unique final cluster distinguishes it from words ending in /s/ or /z/, and the stressed /siː/ is the key marker for correct rhythm.
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Exceeds comes from the verb exceed, which traces to the Latin excedere, formed from ex- (out, away) + cedere (to go, yield). The Latin term excedere appeared in medieval Latin and later inherited into Old French as exceder before entering Middle English, retaining the sense of moving beyond a limit or boundary. Through the centuries, exceed retained its mathematical and evaluative usages—surpassing quotas, expectations, and thresholds. By the 16th–17th centuries, exceed was established in English legal and administrative language to denote surpassing standards, and in modern English it is widely used in formal, analytical, and academic writing. The present-tense form, exceeds, functions with a third-person subject and is the standard present for single-item or singular-noun contexts. First known use in English literature appears in early modern texts where administrators described budgets or quotas that “exceed” the previous year’s figures. Today, “exceed” and “exceeds” are common across business, science, sports, and general discourse, often paired with measures, limits, or performance indicators to emphasize surpassing a defined threshold.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "exceeds" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "exceeds"
-eds sounds
-ads sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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