excel

verb

ex·​cel ik-ˈsel 

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

Synonyms

• exceed
• surpass
• better
• eclipse
• top

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

Instead, Savoie excelled during training camp and preseason play and is now slotted on the second line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

One thing Amazon Prime excels at, is coming through on a deadline and delivering (quite literally) on last-minute purchases. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2025

Built for the complexity of mechanical engineering While general AI tools excel at broad applications, mechanical engineering presents unique challenges that require specialized capabilities. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025

Bhangal, who identifies as a Punjabi-Canadian woman, said her views were shaped by personal experiences and a broader understanding of how women are raised to excel. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

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

Phrases Containing excel

• excel oneself

Rhymes for excel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

excel

verb

ex·​cel ik-ˈsel 

excelled; excelling

: to do or be better than others : surpass

a student who excels in sports

excels her brother at tennis