/ ɪkˈsel; NAmE / verb ( -ll- )
1.
[ v ] ~ (in / at sth / at doing sth) to be very good at doing sth :
She has always excelled in foreign languages.
The team excels at turning defence into attack.
As a child he excelled at music and art.
2.
[ vn ] ~ yourself ( BrE ) to do extremely well and even better than you usually do :
Rick's cooking was always good but this time he really excelled himself.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin excellere , from ex- out, beyond + celsus lofty.