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

• wonderful
• superb
• great
• terrific
• 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

Bold from brown butter and balsamic vinegar and bright from lemon, the crunchy topping is an excellent foil to the sweetness of roasted squash. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Their bench even has some guys providing excellent backup options. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

And there are things to nibble between bites of noodles, like Chen’s excellent popcorn chicken, cut into bite-size nuggets and dusted with hot chile powder. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Mahomes finished with 321 yards and three touchdowns in an excellent performance. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 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