Library / English Dictionary

EXULT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To express great joy

Example:

Who cannot exult in Spring?

Synonyms:

exuberate; exult; jubilate; rejoice; triumph

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "exult" is one way to...):

cheer; cheer up; chirk up (become cheerful)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exult"):

glory (rejoice proudly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue exult over the results of the experiment

Derivation:

exultant (joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success)

exultation (the utterance of sounds expressing great joy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Feel extreme happiness or elation

Synonyms:

be on cloud nine; exult; jump for joy; walk on air

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "exult" is one way to...):

joy; rejoice (feel happiness or joy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exult"):

rejoice; triumph; wallow (be ecstatic with joy)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue exult

Derivation:

exultant (joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success)

exultation (a feeling of extreme joy)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The suddenness with which he dropped it, when he perceived that it was useless to him; the malice, insolence, and hatred, he revealed; the leer with which he exulted, even at this moment, in the evil he had done—all this time being desperate too, and at his wits' end for the means of getting the better of us—though perfectly consistent with the experience I had of him, at first took even me by surprise, who had known him so long, and disliked him so heartily.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He saw them all, fight after fight, himself always whipped and Cheese-Face exulting over him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I trod heaven in my thoughts, now exulting in my powers, now burning with the idea of their effects.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

In trooped the whole family, and everyone was hugged and kissed all over again, and after several vain attempts, the three wanderers were set down to be looked at and exulted over.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She had then been exulting in her engagement to Thorpe, and was now chiefly anxious to avoid his sight, lest he should engage her again; for though she could not, dared not expect that Mr. Tilney should ask her a third time to dance, her wishes, hopes, and plans all centred in nothing less.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She treats me like a visitor, thought I. I little expected such a reception; I anticipated only coldness and stiffness: this is not like what I have heard of the treatment of governesses; but I must not exult too soon.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It was a done thing; Mr. Elton was to go, and never had his broad handsome face expressed more pleasure than at this moment; never had his smile been stronger, nor his eyes more exulting than when he next looked at her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Not to lengthen these particulars, I need only add, that she made a handsome provision for all my possible wants during my month of trial; that Steerforth, to my great disappointment and hers too, did not make his appearance before she went away; that I saw her safely seated in the Dover coach, exulting in the coming discomfiture of the vagrant donkeys, with Janet at her side; and that when the coach was gone, I turned my face to the Adelphi, pondering on the old days when I used to roam about its subterranean arches, and on the happy changes which had brought me to the surface.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He suffered and toiled and sweated and bled, and exulted when his naked knuckles smashed home.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!" and Beth ran to hug her sister and exult over this splendid success.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)