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.
Chelsea keeper Mike Penders made two excellent saves.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
"Holes left by recreations of spears from this time are an excellent fit for the one we found in the Neanderthal scapula," said Pomeroy, a fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Ladd McConkey would be a good No. 2 receiver and an excellent No. 3, but with him as a No. 1 and precious few sure-handed options around him ... the Chargers are undeniably undermanned.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
“The Evonik team is doing an excellent job. But our industry has been facing strong headwinds for years. And those headwinds are getting stronger.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
“An excellent point, Cassiopeia. If the ancient Romans had only had the benefit of your good advice, and Miss Swanburne’s, their empire might still be around today.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
