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 of excel

• 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

Junior running back Levi Murray also has excelled for Wheeler (5-0, 1-0) with 870 yards and 19 TDs on 112 carries, and senior quarterback Logan Fox has completed 35 of 54 pass attempts for 538 yards and three TDs. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Sea days excel at activities, from golf putting, and bridge games to needlepoint and trivia. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Daniel Jones excelled in getting off quick strikes before blitzes got home, and the Chiefs’ coverage in those throws was loose. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Italians have always excelled at thinking outside the box, defying conventions, and finding original solutions. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

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