excel

verb

ex·​cel ik-ˈsel How to pronounce excel (audio)
excelled; excelling
Synonyms of excelnext

transitive verb

: to be superior to : surpass in accomplishment or achievement

intransitive verb

: to be distinguishable by superiority : surpass others
excel in sports
excelled at lipreading

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for excel

exceed, surpass, transcend, excel, outdo, outstrip mean to go or be beyond a stated or implied limit, measure, or degree.

exceed implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement.

exceed the speed limit

surpass suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill.

the book surpassed our expectations

transcend implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits.

transcended the values of their culture

excel implies preeminence in achievement or quality and may suggest superiority to all others.

excels in mathematics

outdo applies to a bettering or exceeding what has been done before.

outdid herself this time

outstrip suggests surpassing in a race or competition.

outstripped other firms in sales

Examples of excel in a Sentence

She excels everyone else in sports. the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously
Recent Examples on the Web Agility, innovation fuel AI success High-trust cultures are more likely to excel in areas essential to AI success: agility, innovation, and extra effort. —Michael C. Bush, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024 From The Inside Out highlights the groundwork for CDOs to excel within organizations. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for excel 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English excellen, from Latin excellere, from ex- + -cellere to rise, project; akin to Latin collis hill — more at hill

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of excel was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing excel

Dictionary Entries Near excel

exceedingly

excel

excellence

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Excel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excel. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

excel

verb
ex·​cel ik-ˈsel How to pronounce excel (audio)
excelled; excelling
: to do or be better than others : surpass
a student who excels in sports
excels her brother at tennis

More from Merriam-Webster on excel

Nglish: Translation of excel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of excel for Arabic Speakers

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