Word
excel
Phoneticsex·cel, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪkˈsɛɫ/
UK/ɛksˈɛl/
Definitions
01to be exceptionally good
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to be very good at doing something, often better than most other people.
v. to be exceptionally proficient or to perform at a superior level in a specific area. Often used with the preposition 'at' or 'in'.
日本語:秀でる※
“She always managed to excel at mathematics even when the problems were difficult.”
“While he struggled with public speaking, he continued to excel in technical research, eventually becoming the lead engineer for the project.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'at' or 'in' plus a noun or gerund.
Antonyms
02spreadsheet software
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Computing
n. a popular computer program used for creating tables, doing math, and organizing data.
n. a proprietary spreadsheet application developed by Microsoft, widely used for data analysis and financial modelling.
“I need to update the budget in the Excel file before the meeting.”
“The finance department requires all new recruits to demonstrate advanced proficiency in Excel, particularly regarding pivot tables and complex formulas.”
Teaching tip
Though a brand name, it is often used generically in office environments to refer to any spreadsheet work.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“In her book and in the media, Panettiere has discussed the pressure her mother placed on her to excel as an actress from an early age.” “What she couldn’t excel at, she didn’t do.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/excel
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0