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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."
Synonyms
Examples of exult in a Sentence
Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 14 June 2024
His constituents exulted when he was thrown out of Congress by his colleagues.
—Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2024
As the players raced to one another, exulting in yet another heart-stopping, nerve-shredding win, staff members sprinted onto the field after them, ensuring each star was correctly attired.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 June 2024
These enterprising lady leaders bring fresh perspectives, transforming their facilities to work in harmony with nature and exult indigenous flavors.
—Annie B. Shapero, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for exult 
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.
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“Exult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exult. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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