excel
verb (used without object)
to surpass others or be superior in some respect or area; do extremely well.
was excelling
-
past progressiveof excel.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
As Bell was excelling at Christian Brothers, Barnes stopped making car and mortgage payments, according to liens on her home and court filings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
Some pointed to a video interview that Mr. Jones gave while attending Petersburg High School, where he was recognized as a student who was excelling.
From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2022
"He was put there for a reason, and he was excelling."
From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2021
McDougal, a 22-year-old Costa Mesa resident who has been diagnosed with autism, started attending the community college in 2014 and was "excelling academically," according to the lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 9, 2018
Aunt Charlotte and Mrs. Dainty watched her flying figure, and often as they had seen her, they knew that she was excelling herself.
From Dorothy Dainty at the Mountains by Amy Brooks
