exult

verb

ex·​ult ig-ˈzəlt How to pronounce exult (audio)
exulted; exulting; exults

intransitive verb

1
: to be extremely joyful : rejoice
the team exulted in their victory
2
obsolete : to leap for joy
exultingly adverb

Did you know?

Exult leaped into English in the 16th century as a verb meaning "to leap for joy." George Chapman used it that way in a translation of Homer's Iliad: "To drive his chariot through the waves. From whirl pits every way the whales exulted under him," he interprets. This use of the verb skipped around in English until the 18th century, when it gracefully exited the everyday lexicon, leaving the verb's other meaning—"to be extremely joyful; to rejoice"—to stay the course. Exult springs from Latin saltare ("to leap"), also the source of saltation, a word for leaping as well as dancing. Another etymological cousin of exult is sally, meaning "to leap out" or "to set out," as in "After the storm passed, the hikers sallied forth."

Examples of exult in a Sentence

“That was the best meal I've ever had!” he exulted. the winners of the Super Bowl spent the next week exulting in their victory
Recent Examples on the Web At a lavish luncheon Mahin lays on for her golden-girl pals, the women debate the utility of having menfolk around, with some exulting in their freedom while others note guys can be useful around the house sometimes. Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024 Of the Nightingale is a 45-minute thrashing, crawling, pulsing solo dance, designed both to exhaust and exult its performer, Stefania Tansini. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 Before the results came in on Tuesday, John McCain’s daughter Meghan posted on X the famous Time magazine cover of her late father, exulting after his upset in the 2000 New Hampshire primary against the overwhelming favorite, George W. Bush. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2024 Never mind the fault in our stars (though one character gets cancer as well), this is a book that exults in them. Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2024 The summit’s hosts, led by state oil executive Sultan Al Jaber, exulted in staging of a first-class event that ultimately obscured criticism of the UAE’s pivotal role in the fossil fuel ecosystem. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2023 As Sullivan stood on the upper West Terrace, seemingly exulting in the mob’s violent approach, he was captured helping one rioter climb up to the terrace. Tom Jackman, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023 Mark Kelly As students and, worse, professors, at elite universities across the U.S. exulted at the news of mass murder and torture of Israeli Jews by Hamas terrorists, Jewish students were warned to take precautions on campus. Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 30 Oct. 2023 As the full cast settled in for the final, Mitchell-honoring stretch, the central guest of honor exulted in the accolades. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French exulter, from Latin exsultare, literally, to leap up, from ex- + saltare to leap — more at saltation

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of exult was in 1548

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near exult

Cite this Entry

“Exult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exult. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exult

verb
ex·​ult ig-ˈzəlt How to pronounce exult (audio)
: to be very joyful : rejoice
exultingly adverb

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