exceedingly
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of exceedingly
Explanation
Use the adverb exceedingly to mean "very." You might brag, for example, that you did exceedingly well on the big math test last week. Exceedingly means "to a very large degree," so it's best to save it for things that really need to be emphasized. You might be exceedingly angry at your little sister after she borrowed your favorite sweater and spilled ketchup on it, or exceedingly happy to have gotten into your first choice college. Exceedingly has a Latin root, excedere, "depart, go beyond, be in excess, or surpass."
Vocabulary lists containing exceedingly
"Common Sense," Vocabulary from the pamphlet
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Rover's Story
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The fact that AI platforms are changing exceedingly fast only makes that question trickier—and more important.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
It’s exceedingly rare for an artist to feel this free, doing what feels right in the moment and trusting his audience to come along with him.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
Weekly jobless claims also remained near an exceedingly low level of 212,000 for the seven days that ended last Saturday.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026
The Trax, a pint-size SUV made in South Korea, proved exceedingly popular: GM sold 200,000 last year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026
“He made a special point of how, despite the fact that it was so valuable and exceedingly rare, he used it as a paperweight.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
