excel

Everyday

1. To excel is to be extremely good at something, better than most others. tree →
2. To excel yourself is to do even better than you usually do. tree →
3. Excel (with a capital E) is the name of a spreadsheet program on computers. tree →

In the lessons

In school reports and everyday praise: «excels at maths», «excels in sport». It tells the reader someone is outstanding. Excel spreadsheets are used to make tables, sums and charts. Phrases: excel at, excel in, excel yourself.

Examples

• She excels at swimming and has won many races. tree →
• Tom excels in maths and science. tree →
• You really excelled yourself with this cake! tree →
• The school helps every pupil excel. tree →
• Our class made a bar chart in Excel. tree →
• He excelled in the spelling test, getting full marks. tree →
• Some people excel at music, others at sport. tree →
• The Goddess, to console him, said, “But you far excel in beauty and in size. tree →

Note

Double the «l» in excelled and excelling. Stress: ex-CEL. Adjective: excellent; noun: excellence. «Excel at» or «excel in» — both are fine.

In Jewish tradition

It means to be better than others, to rise above them. In Jeremiah it is used ironically about a king who wanted fine buildings.

Interpretation. Jeremiah says a king is not great because of his cedar palaces but because he does justice. Solomon's wisdom is praised as the greatest of his age.

Examples

• Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? (Prophets JER.22.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt. (Prophets 1KI.5.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. (Writings ECC.4.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Double the «l» in excelled and excelling. Stress: ex-CEL. Adjective: excellent; noun: excellence. «Excel at» or «excel in» — both are fine.