What does "excelsior" mean?
The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point.
Excelsior
/ɛkˈsɛl.si.ɚ/ adj, intj, noun, slang
adj, intj, noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point.
- Grammar: excelsior is listed as adj, intj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: cheese, wood shavings.
- Usage evidence: There was with him a whole host of moral heroes, who, conscious of their power to win the victory , and quickened by the inspirations which they received from that higher state of being, were striving, by the excelsior movement of the soul, to attain to those glory-encircled heights from whence they could look calmly down upon the plane of their earthly existence.
How to use "excelsior"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "excelsior" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "excelsior" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "excelsior" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "excelsior" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "excelsior" is acting as adj, intj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cheese" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "excelsior", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point. US, dated, uncountable
- 2 thin curly wood shavings used for packing or stuffing wordnet
- 3 Stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled woodshavings, as a substitute for hair. Canada, US, uncountable
"These little mangers, with baby dolls representing Jesus, porcelean Josephs and Marys, wide-eyed cows of papier-mâché, and excelsior for straw, were purchased by pious parents for well-behaved children at Christmas-tide."
Adjective
- 1 Loftier, yet higher, more elevated; ever upward. archaic, not-comparable, poetic, rare
"There was with him a whole host of moral heroes, who, conscious of their power to win the victory , and quickened by the inspirations which they received from that higher state of being, were striving, by the excelsior movement of the soul, to attain to those glory-encircled heights from whence they could look calmly down upon the plane of their earthly existence."
- 2 More surpassing, more excelling. archaic, not-comparable, poetic, rare
"It was clear from the first three paragraphs that the language employed by Mr Tolkien was excelsior. He was brilliant."
Intj
- 1 Onward; a rallying cry for progress. dated
"... and when the shout 'Excelsior!' echoed, up the oaken heights, Two hundred heels went thundering all at once, Four stairs at every jump"
- 2 A greeting, farewell or acclamation. especially, slang
"MARTIN PRINCE: Finally, Bart's one of us! NERDS: Excelsior!"
Synonyms
All synonyms cheesewood shavings
Example
"There was with him a whole host of moral heroes, who, conscious of their power to win the victory , and quickened by the inspirations which they received from that higher state of being, were striving, by the excelsior movement of the soul, to attain to those glory-encircled heights from whence they could look calmly down upon the plane of their earthly existence."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "excelsior"?
Common synonyms include: cheese, wood shavings.
How do you use "excelsior" in a sentence?
There was with him a whole host of moral heroes, who, conscious of their power to win the victory , and quickened by the inspirations which they received from that higher state of being, were striving, by the excelsior movement of the soul, to attain to those glory-encircled heights from whence they could look calmly down upon the plane of their earthly existence.
How do you pronounce "excelsior"?
Pronounced /ɛkˈsɛl.si.ɚ/.
Etymology
From Latin excelsior, comparative of excelsus (“high”). The name of the stuffing material was originally a trademark. As an exclamation, originating in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Excelsior (1841), based on the New York state motto. Popularized in the comic book fandom by Marvel Comics editor Stan Lee, who chose the term to sign off his columns as it was an obscure term and would confound competing publishers who imitated his style.