übertroffen

Übertroffen is a German term linked to the verb übertreffen and is commonly understood as meaning surpassed or exceeded. In standard spelling, the corresponding past participle is übertroffen, which is used in constructions with auxiliary haben or in passive forms, for example: Der Rekord ist übertroffen worden. Der Rekord wurde übertroffen. The word can describe achievements, performances, or metrics that have exceeded a previous benchmark.

Etymology and formality: übertreffen consists of the prefix über- (meaning beyond or above) attached to treffen (to meet or to hit). The past participle formed from übertreffen is übertroffen. The form übertroffen is not standard in modern German and is generally regarded as a nonstandard spelling, a typographical error, or a stylistic variant in titles or headlines rather than common prose.

Usage notes: übertroffen appears almost exclusively outside ordinary text and would typically be corrected to übertroffen in formal writing. As an adjective, übertroffen can describe something that has surpassed others, often in the sense of records, rankings, or expectations. Common phrases include “den Rekord übertroffen” and “eine Leistung, die Erwartungen übertroffen hat.”

Synonyms and related terms: übersteigen, übertreffen, überragen, überbieten. These terms share the core idea of surpassing but differ in nuance and typical contexts (numbers or quantities, overall superiority, bidding contexts, etc.).

See also: German verb overtreffen, comparative and superlative usage, related verbs and nominalizations such as Übertreffen or Übertreffung.