Synonyms

exult

American

[ig-zuhlt] / ɪgˈzʌlt /

verb (used without object)

to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant.

They exulted over their victory.

Synonyms:

revel, glory, delight
Obsolete. to leap, especially for joy.

exult British

/ ɪɡˈzʌlt, ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃən /

verb

to be joyful or jubilant, esp because of triumph or success; rejoice
(often foll by over) to triumph (over); show or take delight in the defeat or discomfiture (of)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does exult mean? Exult means to express or experience triumph or happiness, as in The gambler always exults after winning the big jackpot. Exult can be confused for the similarly spelled word exalt. Exalt has several meanings, including to elevate in rank, power or quality and to praise. Example: Your project winning a national contest is something to exult about!

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of exult

1560–70; < Latin ex ( s ) ultāre to leap up, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + -sultāre (combining form of saltāre to leap)

Explanation

Sometimes you might feel so happy about something you could just burst. This is the time to exult, or rejoice, and you might show your great happiness by laughing, dancing, and shouting with pure joy. To exult means to express your joy in some visible way. Some people exult in a sedate manner, maybe just enjoying their happiness quietly within themselves. Others are more emotional, perhaps expressing their triumph in a loud or physical manner. When you break the word down into its Latin parts, the ex- means "out," and saltāre means "to leap." So exult means to leap with joy.

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Vocabulary lists containing exult

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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.

Exult rejoicing to sounding harps: He failed and fell, terror of holiness, Scourge of God, Etzel the Evil!

From Women of the Teutonic Nations Woman: In all ages and in all countries Vol. 8 (of 10) by Schoenfeld, Hermann

Nor let the tyrant and his son Exult before the fight be done.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Griffith, Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin)

Exult and shout in joy, ye hills of earth, awaken and burst into songs of triumph, ye hosts of heaven.

From The Legends of the Jews — Volume 3 by Radin, Paul

How long shall my proud enemy, Who only meaneth ill to me, Exult o'er me in triumph?

From Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Translated by John Kelly by Gerhardt, Paul

Exult, ye brutes, traduced and scorn'd, Though true to nature's plan; Exult, ye bristled, and ye horn'd, When infants govern man.

From May Day with the Muses by Bloomfield, Robert

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023