Meaning & use
excel
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To be unusually good at an activity or subject.
Grammar: Followed by at or in: excel at math, excel in sports.
Patterns
- excel at something
- excel in something
- excel as something
She excels at mathematics and wins every contest.
The team excelled in the second half.
He excelled as a teacher and mentor.
verbtransitiveformal
To be better than someone or something else.
Grammar: Takes an object: excel all rivals; often with at oneself: excel yourself.
Patterns
- excel someone
- excel yourself
Her results excel those of all earlier students.
The chef excelled herself with tonight's menu.
The new model excels its predecessor in every measure.
Word forms
| third person singular | excels |
|---|---|
| past tense | excelled |
| past participle | excelled |
| -ing form | excelling |
Common combinations
- excel at
- He excels at problem solving.
- excel in
- She excels in languages.
- excel academically
- Students are encouraged to excel academically.
- excel yourself
- The cook really excelled herself this evening.
- continue to excel
- The team continues to excel under pressure.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shine
- A more vivid and informal word for performing impressively, often in a given moment.
- outperform
- Means to do better than another person or thing, and always needs a comparison.
- thrive
- Suggests growing well in a setting, rather than showing skill.
- surpass
- Takes a direct object and means to go beyond a standard, which is less about general excellence.
Opposites
Word family
- excellent adjective
- extremely good
- excellence noun
- the quality of being outstanding
- excellently adverb
- in a very good way
- excellency noun
- a title for certain high officials
Commonly confused: excel or Excel?
excel vs Excel
Excel with a capital E is a spreadsheet program; the verb excel means to be outstanding.
Practice
My sister has always excelled ____ chemistry.
Choose one answer.
Excel in or excel at are the standard patterns with a subject. On, with and for are not used.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “excel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.