Improve upon
Pass and improve upon are semantically related. in surpass topic. In some cases you can use "Pass" instead a verb "Improve upon", when it comes to topics like outdo something or someone.
Pass
Pass verb - To shift possession of (something) from one person to another.
Both terms in one sentence
-
While other species have been observed to pass along learned techniques, none besides humans have been observed to deliberately examine and improve upon those techniques.
Source: Humans Are Special
Cite this Source
Pass and Improve upon. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/improve_upon/pass
Improve upon & Pass. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/improve_upon/pass>.
Pass or Improve upon. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/improve_upon/pass.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "improve upon" and "pass" have occurred on timeline