What does exult mean?
Exult is a verb meaning to feel or show intense joy or triumph, particularly in response to a victory, achievement, or stroke of good fortune. It most commonly appears with the prepositions 'in', 'at', or 'over': fans exulted in their team's win, or a candidate exulted over her rival's defeat. The word carries a formal or literary register and conveys exuberant, almost physical elation — its Latin root suggests leaping for joy. Because of this intensity, exult is stronger than everyday words like 'celebrate' or 'enjoy', and it can occasionally carry a hint of gloating when directed at another's failure, as in exulting over a defeated opponent. Related forms include the adjective 'exultant' and the noun 'exultation', both of which describe triumphant, unrestrained joy. The word should not be confused with 'exalt', which concerns raising in status rather than rejoicing.
verbTo show or feel great joy or triumph, especially about a success or victory; to rejoice enthusiastically. It can also take the form 'exult in/over something', meaning to delight keenly in it.
- To rejoice greatly or triumphantly, especially over a success or victory (often with 'in' or 'over')
- To express great elation openly through words, gestures, or demeanor
"The team exulted after scoring the winning goal in the final seconds."
"Supporters exulted in the streets long after midnight."
"She exulted over her opponent's blunder with an unmistakable grin."
Exult literally means to 'leap up' — the same Latin root that gives us 'salt' as in 'somersault' is hiding inside your joy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exult
Exult comes from the Latin verb 'exultare' (also spelled 'exsilire'), meaning 'to leap up' or 'to spring forth', formed from 'ex-' ('out') plus 'saltare' ('to leap'), a frequentative of 'salire'. English adopted it in the late 16th century, first in the sense of leaping physically before narrowing to emotional jubilation. The same Latin root 'salire' underlies related borrowings such as 'salient', 'resilient', and 'somersault'. A frequent point of confusion is 'exalt', which derives from a different Latin verb, 'exaltare' ('to raise high').
Related word forms
How exult is actually used
Register: formal to literary; rare in casual speech, where 'celebrate' or 'rejoice' is more common. Connotation strongly positive but can shade toward gloating when used with 'over'. Typically used with the prepositions 'in', 'at', or 'over'; often appears intransitively.
Easily confused with exult
'Exalt' means to raise someone or something to a higher rank, status, or level of praise, while 'exult' means to rejoice or feel great elation.