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to excel

to excel

58 3.7
To be much better than other people at an activity or subject
  • verb
  • /ɪkˈsɛl/
translation icon : sobresalir
  • The child changed schools and went on to excel in advanced math classes.
  • excel academically
  • students excel
  • excel in math

And of course, Stanford excels in all of those aspects.

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Examples

  • Your academically advanced students excel no matter what format is adhered to.

    Academic text (1994)
  • With hard work and determination, she was able to excel in her mathematics studies.

  • I will make sure that you excel in whatever you do.

  • What are the areas that that people need to excel in to be successful?

  • You feel better when you excel, when you write a good paper.

  • Do you think men and women excel at different kinds of jobs?

    Academic text (1992)
  • Schools of Education should staff faculty who excel as teachers or field supervisors.

    Academic text (1996)
  • And of course, Stanford excels in all of those aspects.

  • If educators expect students to excel in twenty-first-century skills, then teachers must model these skills.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Twice-exceptional students excel in devising creative solutions that may be unanticipated by the teacher.

    Academic text (2015)

Synonyms

to shine
vsto excel
138 3.6

To do very well and be noticed for ability

focuses more on surpassing others and exceptional superiority rather than example
to excel at
vsto excel
20 3.4

To be very good at a subject or skill

is stronger, meaning exceptionally good and surpasses other people
to shine at
vsto excel
1 3.5

To be very good at a particular activity

implies higher excellence, going beyond good performance to outdo others

Antonyms

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

Phrasal Verbs

20 3.4

To be very good at a subject or skill

Compounds

A strong feeling that you must do very well in school, work, or sport

How Well

to dominate
213 3.8
to outshine
15 4.8
to excel
58 3.7
to do well
520 1.2

Surface Forms

excel infinitive
excelled past
excelled past participle
excelling present participle
excels third person singular

Etymology

Excel comes from Latin parts ex- 'out' and cels- 'high', so it originally meant to 'rise out' or 'rise above'. So to excel is to 'rise above' others — to be very good at something.