exult

American  

[ig-zuhlt] / ɪgˈzʌlt /

verb (used without object)

• exults,
  present (3rd person singular)
• exulted,
  past participle,  past
• exulting
  present participle

1. 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

2. Obsolete. to leap, especially for joy.

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exult British  

/ ɪɡˈzʌlt /

verb

1. to be joyful or jubilant, esp because of triumph or success; rejoice

2. (often foll by over) to triumph (over); show or take delight in the defeat or discomfiture (of)

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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

• exultation
  noun
• self-exulting
  adjective
• exultingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• exulting
  present
• exulted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• exult
  simple
• exults
  simple
• have exulted
  perfect
• has exulted
  perfect
• am exulting
  progressive
• are exulting
  progressive
• is exulting
  progressive
• have been exulting
  perfect progressive
• has been exulting
  perfect progressive

Past

• exulted
  simple
• had exulted
  perfect
• was exulting
  progressive
• were exulting
  progressive
• had been exulting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will exult
  simple
• will have exulted
  perfect
• will be exulting
  progressive
• will have been exulting
  perfect progressive

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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)

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exult exults exulted exulting

The former Radio Disney teen heartthrob, raised Mormon and now openly gay, trades the bruised introspection of 2023’s “Calico” for songs that exult in desire on his new album, “Sweet Fortune.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

In his 1908 book, “Orthodoxy,” Chesterton wrote: “Grown-up people aren’t strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 22, 2025

Frankie and Zeke exult in their profundity, but the real triumph here is Wilson’s.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 15, 2022

They would exult in the stark beauty of the landscape, spend oodles of money in local restaurants, bars and hotels, and then go home again — hopefully without driving up housing prices too much.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2022

“I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!” and Beth ran to hug her sister and exult over this splendid success.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Unlike Hoover Dam, which exults in exertion, the Gateway Arch seems effortless.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

“Adventure, risk, transformation,” she exults, forever on the lookout for her next metamorphosis.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025

The album also exults in musical zingers, non sequiturs and startling off-grid eruptions.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2024

This is still a show that exults in the joy of Christmas and the relationships that make it meaningful.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2023

"What did I say?" exults Hugo, clapping his hands.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

She had a difficult time controlling her temper, exulted in being the center of attention, and alienated influential men in Washington by her efforts to insert herself into policymaking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

“We did it!” a family member exulted to lead defense attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2024

When his team succeeded, when the Trinity gadget exploded, Oppenheimer both exulted and mourned.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2023

Having dreaded the worst, Pakistan exulted with relief and pride over the daring rescue.

From Reuters ● Aug. 23, 2023

Others depend on me now, he exulted as he trudged down the dust-impacted steps to the level beneath.

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick

Mr. Herzog is interested in everything, and makes everything interesting, exulting in all of the world’s settings, the stranger the better.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

We need to take the next step, which is to say that they are breaking systems and exulting in it.

From Slate ● Feb. 6, 2026

“I betrayed him, I betrayed the family, I betrayed the army!” says Moreno Ocampo, exulting in the anecdote.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

She walked away exulting because slow, hip-rolling grannies can’t do what she does.

From Washington Post ● May 7, 2022

The ghosts cheered and threw spectral confetti as Bacchus strode around the stadium with his arms raised triumphantly, exulting in the worship.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

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Related Words

• gloat
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