excel

verb

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

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
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 For instance, the shift from manufacturing to tech saw mechanical workers excel in computer programming and IT support roles. Ebony Flake, Essence, 24 Mar. 2024 Not stopping there, Mariela excels on the field as a member of both the varsity soccer and track teams, demonstrating her prowess in athletics. The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024 Trump excels also at character assassination, ridiculing his critics almost daily. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 The outdoor activities are where Paws Up truly excels, from family-friendly go-kart racing to an aerial ropes course to cattle drives. Samantha Falewée, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2024 Fresh off the success of Pluribus, Brown went searching for a harder challenge—one that would require not just the abstract strategic thinking needed to win a game like poker but also the ability to excel in the messier world of unstructured human interaction. Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024 Love excelled in several marquee games (36 points at Oregon, 29 against Purdue, 28 at Washington State) and contributed with his rebounding and passing skills. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 That’s where this pair from 1822 denim really excelled: This pair stayed put over her belly all day. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 4 Mar. 2024 Some cars have comparatively slow speeds in a straight line but excel in corners, like McLaren’s last year, while others might have the opposite problem. Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near excel

Cite this Entry

“Excel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excel. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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