excess Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a quantity much larger than is needed
    nimiety; surplusage; surplus.
  2. noun immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
    inordinateness; excessiveness.
  3. noun the state of being more than full
    surfeit; overabundance.
  4. noun excessive indulgence
    overindulgence.
    • the child was spoiled by overindulgence
  5. adjective satellite more than is needed, desired, or required
    supererogatory; extra; redundant; surplus; spare; superfluous; supernumerary.
    • trying to lose excess weight
    • found some extra change lying on the dresser
    • yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
    • skills made redundant by technological advance
    • sleeping in the spare room
    • supernumerary ornamentation
    • it was supererogatory of her to gloat
    • delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
    • extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
    • surplus cheese distributed to the needy

WordNet


Ex*cess" noun
Etymology
OE. exces, excess, ecstasy, L. excessus a going out, loss of self-possession, fr. excedere, excessum, to go out, go beyond: cf. F. excès. See Exceed.
Definitions
  1. The state of surpassing or going beyond limits; the being of a measure beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds what is usual or prover; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light.
    To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. Shak.
    That kills me with excess of grief, this with excess of joy. Walsh.
  2. An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation.
    Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Eph. v. 18.
    Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.
  3. The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder; as, the difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.

Webster 1913