excel
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ex·cel
(ĭk-sĕl′)v. ex·celled, ex·cel·ling, ex·cels
v.tr.
To do or be better than; surpass.
v.intr.
To show superiority; surpass others: excels at tennis.
Synonyms: excel, surpass, exceed, outstrip, outdo
These verbs mean to be greater or better than someone or something. To excel is to achieve a level higher than another or others: She excelled the other speakers in wit and eloquence. To surpass is to go beyond another in performance, quality, or degree: "Nevertheless, I had a sense of overwhelming modernity, of being a pioneer, of having surpassed my mother's generation by leagues and light-years" (Shirley Abbott).
Exceed can refer to being superior to another (an invention that exceeds all others in ingenuity), to being greater than something (a salary exceeding 250 thousand dollars a year), and to going beyond a proper limit (exceed one's authority). Outstrip and outdo imply leaving another or others behind, as in a contest or competition: The student outstripped her classmates in academic honors. "So back she went to join the other village flirts, and she outdid them all, with her flaunting smile and the wondrous way her body moved" (William Goldman).
These verbs mean to be greater or better than someone or something. To excel is to achieve a level higher than another or others: She excelled the other speakers in wit and eloquence. To surpass is to go beyond another in performance, quality, or degree: "Nevertheless, I had a sense of overwhelming modernity, of being a pioneer, of having surpassed my mother's generation by leagues and light-years" (Shirley Abbott).
Exceed can refer to being superior to another (an invention that exceeds all others in ingenuity), to being greater than something (a salary exceeding 250 thousand dollars a year), and to going beyond a proper limit (exceed one's authority). Outstrip and outdo imply leaving another or others behind, as in a contest or competition: The student outstripped her classmates in academic honors. "So back she went to join the other village flirts, and she outdid them all, with her flaunting smile and the wondrous way her body moved" (William Goldman).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
excel
(ɪkˈsɛl)vb, -cels, -celling or -celled
1. to be superior to (another or others); surpass
2. (intr; foll by in or at) to be outstandingly good or proficient: he excels at tennis.
[C15: from Latin excellere to rise up]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ex•cel
(ɪkˈsɛl)v. -celled, -cel•ling. v.i.
1. to surpass others or be superior in some respect or area; do extremely well: to excel in math.
v.t. 2. to surpass; be superior to; outdo.
[1400–50; late Middle English < Latin excellere=ex- ex-1 + -cellere to rise high, tower (akin to celsus high)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
excel
Past participle: excelled
Gerund: excelling
| Imperative |
|---|
| excel |
| excel |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. | excel - distinguish oneself; "She excelled in math" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
excel
verb be superior, better, pass, eclipse, beat, top, cap (informal), exceed, go beyond, surpass, transcend, outdo, outshine, surmount, run rings around (informal), put in the shade (informal), outrival Few dancers have excelled her in virtuosity.
excel in or at something be good at, be master of, predominate in, shine at, be proficient in, show talent in, be skilful at, have (something) down to a fine art, be talented at She excelled at outdoor sports.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
excel
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَفَوَّقيَمْتاز
překonatvynikat
brillereudmærke sig
hiilgamaületama
túlteszfelülmúljeleskedikkiemelkedikkimagaslik
skara fram úr
超える越える
ekscelencijapralenktipranoktitobulumas
būt pārākampārspēt
daha iyi olmakön plana çıkmaksivrilmek
excel
[ɪkˈsel]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
excel
[ɪkˈsɛl]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
excel
vi → sich auszeichnen, sich hervortun
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
excel
[ɪkˈsɛl]Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
excel
(ikˈsel) – past tense, past participle exˈcelled – verb1. to stand out beyond others (in some quality etc); to do very well (in or at some activity). He excelled in mathematics / at football.
2. to be better than. She excels them all at swimming.
ˈexcellence (ˈek-) noun unusual goodness or worth. this man's excellence as a teacher.
ˈExcellency (ˈek-) – plural ˈExcellencies – noun (with His, ~Your etc) a title of honour, used eg for ambassadors. His/Your Excellency; Their Excellencies.
ˈexcellent (ˈek-) adjective unusually good. an excellent plan.
ˈexcellently adverbKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.