excelled

excelled — verb

  • excelledpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • excelleds3rd person singular
  • excelleding-ing form
  • excellededpast simple

1. To perform at a very high level in a particular activity, doing better than most

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

To perform at a very high level in a particular activity, doing better than most other people — for example, excelling in sports, at school, or in a profession.

例句

Emma excelled in her final exams, earning the highest score in the entire school.

excel + in + noun phrase (field/area)

The young chef excelled at baking French pastries and won a national competition.

excel + at + gerund (activity)

同義詞
  • shine

    more informal; suggests standing out noticeably

  • distinguish oneself

    formal; implies gaining recognition through one's excellence

  • stand out

    informal; focuses on being noticeably better than others

  • surpass

    emphasizes going beyond others' achievements

反義詞
  • fail

    opposite end of the performance spectrum

  • underperform

    more specific opposite; performing below expected level

文法句型

excel + at/in + noun/gerund

excel + as + noun (role)

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'at' for specific skills or activities, and with 'in' for broader fields or areas. 'As' is used when describing a role or profession.

常見錯誤

❌She excelled on mathematics.
✅She excelled in mathematics.
💡the correct prepositions are 'at' or 'in', not 'on'.
❌He excelled to play the piano.
✅He excelled at playing the piano.
💡use a gerund (playing) after 'at', not an infinitive.

2. To achieve a noticeably higher level in an activity than your own previous effor

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

To achieve a noticeably higher level in an activity than your own previous efforts have shown — for example, running a personal best time or producing your finest piece of work to date.

例句

The old baker excelled himself this Christmas with his most beautiful gingerbread house yet.

excel + oneself (British)

Amara excelled in the final round, finishing ten seconds faster than ever before.

同義詞
反義詞
  • underperform

    performing below one's usual standard

  • fall short

    failing to meet one's own expectations or previous level

文法句型

excel + oneself

excel + at/in + noun/gerund (self-comparison context)

用法筆記

The reflexive form 'excel oneself' is chiefly British English. It describes doing better than one's own previous standard, not necessarily surpassing others. In American English, this sense typically uses 'excel at/in' with context indicating self-improvement.

常見錯誤

❌I excelled me in the test.
✅I excelled myself in the test.
💡the reflexive pronoun must match the subject: myself/yourself/himself/herself/itself/ourselves/yourselves/themselves.
❌She excelled herself at the exam meaning she passed.
✅She excelled herself at the exam by getting the highest grade in her year.
💡'excel oneself' implies an unusually good performance, not just meeting a basic requirement.