excel

verb

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

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 of excel

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fejzo excelled academically, played the flute, and ran cross-country. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 While some are exceptional at understanding large, mature codebases, others excel at rapid prototyping, automation or conversational technical assistance. — Amrit Jassal, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Power of women CEOs Stock performance aside, women chief executives are already excelling in their management roles in a trend Lizarraga first noticed about 20 years ago. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 Park excels at articulating the importance and immediacy of youth, when bonds carry an extra intensity that makes breaking them feel bigger than life. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excel

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

Rhymes for excel

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Browse Nearby Words

exceedingly
excel
excellence
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Cite this Entry

“Excel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excel. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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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

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