What does excellently mean?
"Excellently" is an adverb meaning in an excellent manner — that is, extremely well or to a very high standard. It describes how an action is performed or the degree to which something possesses a quality, as in "she sang excellently" or "an excellently documented study." The word derives from "excellent," which traces back through Old French to the Latin verb excellere, meaning to rise above or surpass. In tone, "excellently" carries an unambiguously positive connotation and suits evaluative contexts: performance reviews, criticism, academic commentary, and product assessments all rely on it heavily. Although it is fully at home in everyday English, it leans slightly toward formal or written usage, since casual speech often substitutes phrases like "very well." It also serves as an intensifier before participles and adjectives — an excellently crafted argument — where it signals not mere competence but distinction. For writers seeking a precise, dignified way to express top-tier quality, "excellently" remains one of the most reliable choices available.
adverbIn a manner that is extremely good or of very high quality; very well.
- To a very high standard or degree of quality; in an excellent manner (e.g., a task done excellently).
- Used as an intensive modifier meaning very or highly, typically before adjectives or participles (e.g., an excellently written report).
"The team performed excellently throughout the entire tournament."
"She handled the difficult negotiations excellently."
"It is an excellently researched and clearly argued book."
Excellently comes from the Latin excellere — literally "to rise up or tower above" — so to do something excellently is etymologically to rise above the ordinary.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of excellently
"Excellently" was formed in Middle-to-early Modern English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to "excellent." That adjective came into English via Old French from the Latin present participle stem excellens, itself derived from the verb excellere, composed of ex- ("out") plus cellere ("to rise, be lofty"). The underlying image is therefore of something rising or towering above its surroundings, which explains why excellence has always carried connotations of surpassing the ordinary. Cognate forms sharing this Latin root include "excel," "excellence," and "excellency."
Related word forms
How excellently is actually used
"Excellently" is neutral-to-formal in register and appears frequently in reviews, evaluations, and formal writing. In everyday speech, people often prefer simpler intensifiers such as "very well" or "really well," which can make "excellently" sound slightly more polished or written in flavor. It commonly modifies both verbs (performed excellently) and past participles used adjectivally (an excellently organized event).
Easily confused with excellently
"Excellent" is an adjective describing a noun (an excellent meal), while "excellently" is the adverb describing how an action is done (the meal was cooked excellently).