Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
name
Microsoft Excel, a spreadsheet application software program written and distributed by Microsoft.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, software
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To surpass someone or something; to be better or do better than someone or something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: better, outclass, outperform, bear away the bell, best, overtake, dwarf, eclipse, exceed, excel, hold the cards, outdo, outmatch, overbear, outrival, outrun, outshadow, outshine, outstrip, outvie, overmatch, overshadow, pass, prevail, put to shame, run away with, surpass, top, transcend, trump, upstage
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To be much better than others.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Synonyms: rock, rule
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To exceed, to go beyond.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, rare, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: exceed, overstep, surpass, transgress, transcend, excel, forpass, go beyond, outreach, outcompass, outstep, outstrip, overgo, overpass, overreach, overstride, trespass
Antonyms: none provided
verb
distinguish oneself
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: stand out, surpass
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: exceed, transcend, overstep, pass, go past, top, rank, outrank, shine at, excel at
History
From excel. The name was selected in 1984 by Microsoft after being submitted by a branch manager and is thought to convey superiority over other spreadsheet programs, especially then dominant Lotus 1-2-3.
From Middle English excellen, from Old French exceller, from Latin excellere, excelsum; ex (“out”) + *cellō, an unattested verb root found in culmen (“height, top”); Compare French exceller. See also culminate, column.
Across languages
93 source translations are retained for this English entry.
