Cool MateExcellent vs Great
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
| Excellent | Great | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ |
| Meaning | very good or great | very good or impressive |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | This pizza is great and very tasty! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | terrible, poor, bad |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. |
Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs Great
What's the difference between Excellent and Great?
Excellent: very good or great Great: very good or impressive
Are Excellent and Great the same CEFR level?
Excellent: A2, Great: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Excellent and Great interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and Great are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.