exult

verb

ex·​ult ig-ˈzəlt How to pronounce exult (audio)
exulted; exulting; exults

intransitive verb

1
: to be extremely joyful : rejoice
the team exulted in their victory
2
obsolete : to leap for joy
exultingly adverb

Did you know?

Exult leaped into English in the 16th century as a verb meaning "to leap for joy." George Chapman used it that way in a translation of Homer's Iliad: "To drive his chariot through the waves. From whirl pits every way the whales exulted under him," he interprets. This use of the verb skipped around in English until the 18th century, when it gracefully exited the everyday lexicon, leaving the verb's other meaning—"to be extremely joyful; to rejoice"—to stay the course. Exult springs from Latin saltare ("to leap"), also the source of saltation, a word for leaping as well as dancing. Another etymological cousin of exult is sally, meaning "to leap out" or "to set out," as in "After the storm passed, the hikers sallied forth."

Examples of exult in a Sentence

“That was the best meal I've ever had!” he exulted. the winners of the Super Bowl spent the next week exulting in their victory
Recent Examples on the Web While comedies like the BBC’s Man Like Mobeen were exulted for their authenticity, there is a view that UK drama is the domain of white writers, producers, and directors, and this has damaged representation. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2024 When Lionel Messi and Argentina at last exulted in Qatar a year and a half ago, edging France in a shootout to win an electrifying World Cup final, La Albiceleste finished rewriting a narrative that had followed it to every major tournament for nearly 30 years. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 14 June 2024 His constituents exulted when he was thrown out of Congress by his colleagues. Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2024 As the players raced to one another, exulting in yet another heart-stopping, nerve-shredding win, staff members sprinted onto the field after them, ensuring each star was correctly attired. Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for exult 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French exulter, from Latin exsultare, literally, to leap up, from ex- + saltare to leap — more at saltation

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of exult was in 1548

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Dictionary Entries Near exult

Cite this Entry

“Exult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exult. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

exult

verb
ex·​ult ig-ˈzəlt How to pronounce exult (audio)
: to be very joyful : rejoice
exultingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on exult

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