overgå

Overgå is a Norwegian verb meaning to surpass, exceed, or go beyond something such as a standard, limit, or expectation. It is commonly used to describe someone or something that performs better than others or that exceeds what was anticipated. In addition to its primary sense, overgå can appear in idiomatic expressions such as å overgå seg selv, meaning to surpass one’s own previous achievement or performance.

The verb is irregular and classified as a strong verb. In Bokmål/Nynorsk, its principal forms are present tense overgår, past tense overgikk, and past participle overgått. Its etymology traces back to Old Norse yfir ganga, meaning roughly “to go over” or “to go beyond.”

Usage notes and examples:

- Resultatet overgikk forventningene. (The result exceeded the expectations.)

- Hun overgår alle konkurrentene på pris og kvalitet. (She surpasses all the competitors in price and quality.)

- Prosjektet har overgått det som var planlagt. (The project has surpassed what was planned.)

- Han klarte å overgå seg selv med den nye sangen. (He managed to surpass himself with the new song.)

Common collocations include overgå forventninger, overgå konkurrenter, and overgå et tidligere rekord. While most often used in formal, media, or evaluative contexts, the meaning remains clear across registers. Related concepts in Norwegian include synonymer som å overgå, å forbedre seg, og å slå konkurrentene.