adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of excellent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin excellent-, stem of excellēns, present participle of excellere excel
Explanation
Something excellent is very good, great, or high quality: this is one of the best compliments around. Words like extraordinary and exceptional are similar in meaning to excellent. This is a strong word used mainly for things, people, and actions that are much better than average. A B+ on a test isn't bad, but an A is excellent. In basketball, making an all-star team is excellent. Being excellent is difficult and people tend to admire it. People use excellent in another, less specific way sometimes. If you want to say "Cool" or "Good" you might say "Excellent!"
Vocabulary lists containing excellent
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hench pointed to two newer business lines as having excellent prospects for long-term growth — cryogenic tanks used in spacecraft and equipment used in the nuclear-power generation.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Trout was expected to benefit big-time from ABS because he has always had an excellent walk rate and boasts a .405 on-base percentage in 16 seasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Frasers’ strong cash flow and balance sheet put it “in an excellent position to further strengthen its strategic investments,” analysts at Panmure Liberum said in a recent research note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The ministry and the industry emphasised overall the "excellent health" of the harvest, free of fungi and other moisture-related diseases.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
The robot was an excellent mimic, and she began crying out in the sad voice of a wounded calf.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
