excellent

adjective

ex·​cel·​lent ˈek-s(ə-)lənt 

1

: very good of its kind : eminently good : first-class

2

archaic : superior

excellently adverb

Synonyms of excellent

• superb
• wonderful
• terrific
• great
• fantastic
• awesome
• lovely
• fabulous
• beautiful
• stellar
• marvelous
• prime
• fine

Examples of excellent in a Sentence

Her new movie has received excellent reviews.

He is an excellent role model for young men everywhere.

The car is in excellent condition.

Recent Examples on the Web

Our officers did an excellent job removing a violent criminal off the streets, and that was just the beginning. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

This is excellent energy for captions, pitches, texts, brainstorming, flirting, or turning a quick idea into something shareable. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

There’s no single best small backpack, but there are some excellent options out there to suit people with a range of styles and preferences. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

The facilities are modern and the views excellent, yet there’s an intimacy that belies the 20,000-plus capacity. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin excellent-, excellens, from present participle of excellere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing excellent

• have it on good/excellent authority
• in (good/excellent, etc.) condition

Kids Definition

excellent

adjective

ex·​cel·​lent ˈek-s(ə-)lənt 

: very good of its kind : first-class

excellently adverb