1
a
: the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits : superfluity
b
: the amount or degree by which one thing or quantity exceeds another
an excess of 10 bushels
2
: undue or immoderate indulgence : intemperance
also
: an act or instance of intemperance
prevent excesses and abuses by newly created local powers —
Albert Shanker
Albert Shanker
: more than the usual, proper, or specified amount
excessed; excessing; excesses
: to eliminate the position of
excessed several teachers because of budget cutbacks
Synonyms
Examples of excess in a Sentence
Noun
They were equipped with an excess of provisions.
The tests found an excess of sodium in his blood.
He lived a life of excess.
The movie embraces all the worst excesses of popular American culture.
the violent excesses of the military regime
He apologized for his past excesses.
Adjective
Basketball provided an outlet for their excess energy.
She is trying to eliminate excess fat and calories from her diet.
Recent Examples on the WebKaty Waldman, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Costanzo comes from the tradition of Baroque opera and excels in Nero’s glorifying excesses.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024
Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2024
Coyote had been hit heavily by the freight recession that has persisted since late 2022 due to overall weaker consumer demand, plummeting freight rates and excess capacity—giving the restructuring UPS more incentive to cut ties.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 July 2024
Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for excess 
Noun
Biden has punctuated an excess of linguistic padding with an overly dense shorthand.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
Costanzo comes from the tradition of Baroque opera and excels in Nero’s glorifying excesses.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024
Adjective
There are many causes and contributors to chronic inflammation, but excess body fat is moving quickly to the top of the chart.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2024
Coyote had been hit heavily by the freight recession that has persisted since late 2022 due to overall weaker consumer demand, plummeting freight rates and excess capacity—giving the restructuring UPS more incentive to cut ties.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 July 2024
Verb
Over the past few months my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2023
Over the past few months, my wife has begun drinking to excess every evening.
—Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 July 2023
See all Example Sentences for excess
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Excess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excess. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
excess
2 of 2 adjective
: more than what is usual, acceptable, or needed
excess baggage
an outlet for their excess energy
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