excel
ihk-SEHL
Excel (verb) means to be very good at something, or to do noticeably better than others. Example: “She excels at mathematics and always tops the class.”
verb
1
To be very good at something, or to do noticeably better than others.
"But it is as a destroyer of grasshoppers that the dickcissel excels."
— Sylvester D. Judd, The Relation of Sparrows to Agriculture (1901)
"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."
— , International friendly: England 1-0 Spain (2011)
"She excels at mathematics and always tops the class."
"He excelled in every sport he tried."
"Our daughter excels at drawing and spends hours sketching animals."
How to use excel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be outstanding at something.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with the spreadsheet program "Excel" (a brand name) — the verb is lowercase.
Common pairings
excel at
excel in
excel academically
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- excels
- Past tense
- excelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ at mathematics and always tops the class.
Etymology
From Old French exceller, from Latin excellere, "to rise high, tower above" — from ex- ("out") plus a root related to "culmen" (top, summit), the same root as "culminate."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “excel” mean?
The word “excel” means to be very good at something, or to do noticeably better than others. In plain terms, to be outstanding at something.
How do you pronounce “excel”?
“Excel” is pronounced ihk-SEHL (/ɪkˈsɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “excel” in a sentence?
Here is “excel” used in a sentence: “She excels at mathematics and always tops the class.”
What is another word for “excel”?
Words with a similar meaning to “excel” include bang, devour, eat and leave no crumbs, eat, go hard and kick.
What is the opposite of “excel”?
The opposite of “excel” — its antonyms — are choke, fail, go soft, misperform and stink.
What part of speech is “excel”?
“Excel” is a verb.
Where does the word “excel” come from?
The word “excel” comes from Latin. From Old French exceller, from Latin excellere, "to rise high, tower above" — from ex- ("out") plus a root related to "culmen" (top, summit), the same root as "culminate.".
Is “excel” a common word?
“Excel” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between excel and succeed?
Excel specifically means to do noticeably better than others or to be very good at something, implying a standard well above average. Succeed more broadly means to achieve a desired result or goal, without necessarily implying superiority over others.
Is excel followed by "in" or "at"?
Excel is typically followed by "in" or "at" when naming the area of skill, as in "excel in mathematics" or "excel at sports." Both prepositions are correct and widely used, with "at" often preferred before an activity and "in" before a field or subject.
Is excel a formal word?
Excel is a standard word suitable for both formal and everyday English, commonly used in academic, professional, and general contexts to praise someone's performance.
