Excel

/ɪkˈsɛl/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To surpass someone or something; to be better or do better than someone or something..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To surpass someone or something; to be better or do better than someone or something.
2. (intransitive) To be much better than others.
3. (transitive, archaic, rare) To exceed, to go beyond.

Example Sentences

I excelled everyone else with my exam results.

Compositions which follow the style of Nissi Belzer's creations in structure but which excel them in length.

La Rochefoucauld, the French philosopher, said: "If you want enemies, excel your friends; but if you want friends, let your friends excel you." Why is that true? Because when our friends excel us, that gives them a feeling of importance; but when we excel them, that gives them a feeling of inferiority and arouses envy and jealousy.

1924: Aristotle, Metaphysics. Translated by W. D. Ross. Nashotah, Wisconsin, USA: The Classical Library, 2001. Book 1, Part 2.. If, then, there is something in what the poets say, and jealousy is natural to the divine power, it would probably occur in this case above all, and all who excelled in this knowledge would be unfortunate.

But it is as a destroyer of grasshoppers that the dickcissel excels.

Lescott gave his finest England performance alongside his former Everton team-mate Phil Jagielka, who also excelled despite playing with a fractured toe, while Parker was given a deserved standing ovation when he was substituted late on.

From Rosie the Riveter to Coco Channel^([sic – meaning Coco Chanel]) (in pants!), from Amelia Earhart to the quaintrelle (the female dandy), change in women's dress has symbolized everything from the right and need to work outside the home to wearing pants as a fashion statement to excelling at a profession (even as an aviatrix) to once again claiming the right to cultivate life's pleasures.

She opened; but to shut / Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood […]

Synonyms for excel

Antonyms for excel

Related Words

Word Forms

• excels
• excelling
• excelled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions