excellent

1. 1
   very goodadjective

   Extremely good; of very high quality and better than others of its kind.

   The orchestra gave an excellent performance of the symphony.

   Reviewers praised the film for its excellent cinematography.

   UsageSomeone is excellent at something: excellent at chess. It already means very good, so it usually takes absolutely (not incorrect: very excellent).

2. 2
   approvalinterjection

   Used as an exclamation to express delight at, or strong approval of, something just said or done.

   The contract is signed? Excellent. Let's tell the team.

   Excellent! That's exactly the answer I was hoping to hear.

   Similargreat

3. 3
   outstanding (good or bad)adjective

   Superior in kind or degree, without regard to whether the thing is morally good or bad.

   She turned out to be an excellent thief, slipping past three security guards without anyone noticing a thing.

   Investigators admitted the forger had done excellent work: his fake paintings fooled experts for nearly a decade.

   Similarconsummate, supreme, accomplished, superlative

   Note

   Degree without approval. David Hume calls Elizabeth "an excellent hypocrite," and The Queene of Corinth, by Fletcher, Massinger and Field, says "Their sorrows are most excellent." The praise goes to completeness, not virtue. Before a vice or a grief, read excellent as "consummate" or "thorough."

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