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
- beat
- better
- eclipse
- exceed
- outclass
- outdistance
- outdo
- outgun
- outmatch
- outshine
- outstrip
- overtop
- surpass
- top
- tower (over)
- transcend
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 But finding a catcher who can excel as both a hitter and a defender could be the optimal route, given the irregularity of such catchers coming along. 
Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2022 But Alabama’s pass protection, including its running backs and tight ends, did not excel in the game. Christopher Smith, al, 6 Sep. 2021 As with the combined R&B/hip-hop charts, the blended rock and alternative tallies reflect the reach of acts who excel in music that straddles different sides of the ever-evolving rock and alternative genres. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2022 Players that really excel do more than what’s asked of them. Stephen Means, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 Research shows that companies that excel at personalization generate an incremental 10% to 15% revenue lift from their efforts. Yec, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 That hasn’t stopped her dad from being trolled online, particularly by soccer fans, who excel in trash-talking and, in this case, speculating about what his daughter might be up to. James Hookway, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 That society recognizes and reveres the individuals who excel at these sports as winners is a crucial element. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2022 Yes, the Blazers traded primarily the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick, acquired from New Orleans in the McCollum deal, for the 6-8 Grant, who can excel at power forward or small forward. oregonlive, 7 July 2022 See More
Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2022 But Alabama’s pass protection, including its running backs and tight ends, did not excel in the game. Christopher Smith, al, 6 Sep. 2021 As with the combined R&B/hip-hop charts, the blended rock and alternative tallies reflect the reach of acts who excel in music that straddles different sides of the ever-evolving rock and alternative genres. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2022 Players that really excel do more than what’s asked of them. Stephen Means, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2022 Research shows that companies that excel at personalization generate an incremental 10% to 15% revenue lift from their efforts. Yec, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 That hasn’t stopped her dad from being trolled online, particularly by soccer fans, who excel in trash-talking and, in this case, speculating about what his daughter might be up to. James Hookway, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 That society recognizes and reveres the individuals who excel at these sports as winners is a crucial element. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2022 Yes, the Blazers traded primarily the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick, acquired from New Orleans in the McCollum deal, for the 6-8 Grant, who can excel at power forward or small forward. oregonlive, 7 July 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
excel
verb
ex·cel ik-ˈsel
excelled; excelling
: to do better than others : surpass
She excelled at running.
excelled
verb
as in surpassed
to be greater, better, or stronger than the special effects in this new sci-fi extravaganza excel any that we've seen previously Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- surpassed
- exceeded
- eclipsed
- topped
- outshone
- bettered
- outdid
- transcended
- outstripped
- outclassed
- mastered
- outdistanced
- beat
- outmatched
- outshined
- outgunned
- overcame
- overshadowed
- overtopped
- defeated
- outpaced
- bested
- outperformed
- went one better
- conquered
- outran
- outweighed
- surmounted
- outraced
- overpassed
- trounced
- subdued
- towered (over)
- ran rings around
- trumped
- one-upped
- shamed
- overmatched
- clobbered
- worsted
- licked
- ran circles around
- thrashed
- routed
- outcompeted
- crushed
- walloped
- drubbed
- whipped
- trimmed
- outbalanced
- skunked
- prevailed (over)
- triumphed (over)
- overbore
- won (against)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lost (to)