Is 'exultation' a common word?

No, it's a C2-level, low-frequency word. It is used in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts rather than everyday conversation.

What's the difference between 'exultation' and 'jubilation'?

They are very close synonyms. 'Exultation' often emphasizes a more personal, triumphant feeling from a specific success, while 'jubilation' can describe a more general, often communal, atmosphere of joyful celebration.

Can 'exultation' have a negative connotation?

Yes, if it describes joy at someone else's defeat or misfortune, it can imply gloating or boastfulness (e.g., 'his exultation over his rival's failure').

How do I use it in a sentence?

Use it with prepositions like 'at', 'in', or 'over' to show the cause: 'exultation at the victory', 'exultation in winning', 'exultation over a rival'. It often follows verbs like 'feel', 'express', or 'be filled with'.

exultation

UK/ˌɛɡzʌlˈteɪʃ(ə)n/US/ˌɛɡzəlˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

Formal, literary, elevated.

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A feeling of great joy, triumph, or jubilation, often due to a success or victory.

A state of intense happiness and celebration, sometimes expressed outwardly; can also refer to a sense of elated pride or the act of rejoicing.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Often implies a cause for the joy, such as a victory or achievement. Conveys a stronger, more intense, and sometimes more public or triumphant feeling than general happiness.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differs (see IPA). The word is slightly more frequent in American English in the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) vs. the British National Corpus (BNC), but remains a high-level word in both.

Connotations

In both varieties, it carries connotations of triumph, celebration, and often public or communal joy.

Frequency

Low-frequency word in everyday speech in both regions. More common in formal writing, journalism, and literature.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

great exultationtriumphant exultationwild exultationmoment of exultationcry of exultation

medium

felt exultationfilled with exultationsense of exultationpublic exultationsheer exultation

weak

pure exultationsudden exultationquiet exultationvisible exultationsuppressed exultation

Grammar

Valency Patterns

exultation at + noun/gerund (exultation at their victory)exultation in + noun/gerund (exultation in winning)exultation over + noun (exultation over the defeated rival)with exultation (He shouted with exultation.)a feeling/sense of exultation

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

triumpheuphoriaraptureecstasy

Neutral

jubilationelationrejoicingcelebration

Weak

delightjoyhappinessglee

Vocabulary

Antonyms

despairdejectionmiserysorrowanguishgloom

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“[No common idioms are formed directly with 'exultation'. The related verb 'exult' appears in 'exult in (something)'.]”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare. Might appear in hyperbolic contexts about a major corporate victory. 'The CEO could not hide his exultation after the hostile takeover succeeded.'

Academic

Used in historical, literary, or sociological texts describing public sentiment. 'The exultation following the armistice was short-lived.'

Everyday

Very rare in casual conversation. Would be replaced by 'celebration', 'huge excitement', or 'they were over the moon'.

Technical

Not applicable in technical fields.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

The fans exulted wildly when their team scored the winning goal.
He exulted in his rival's misfortune, which was rather ungracious.

American English

Supporters exulted after the election results were announced.
She couldn't help but exult over her promotion.

adverb

British English

They celebrated exultantly long into the night.
He waved the trophy exultantly above his head.

American English

She smiled exultantly as she accepted the award.
The team danced exultantly on the field.

adjective

British English

The exultant crowd spilled onto the pitch at the final whistle.
She gave an exultant shout as she crossed the finish line.

American English

His exultant expression said it all—he had won the case.
The exultant cheers could be heard for blocks.

Examples

By CEFR Level

[Too complex for A2. Use 'They were very, very happy.']

The team's exultation was clear after they won the championship.
She felt a moment of exultation when she passed her driving test.

His heart swelled with exultation as he watched his daughter graduate with honours.
There was no exultation in their victory, only a sense of relief that the long conflict was over.

The general's memoirs described the public's exultation at the war's end as a transformative national moment.
A quiet but profound exultation filled her; against all odds, her research had yielded a breakthrough.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: EXULTATION feels like an EXULTANT (very happy) celebration after a great success.

Conceptual Metaphor

JOY IS UP / VICTORY (The feeling of exultation is a high, upward surge of emotion following a metaphorical 'ascent' over an opponent or challenge.)

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with 'эксплуатация' (ekspluatatsiya), which means 'exploitation'. They are false friends.
The Russian 'ликование' (likovanie) or 'торжество' (torzhestvo) are closer equivalents than the more general 'радость' (radost').

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'exaltation' (which means praise or elevation).
Using it to describe mild happiness (e.g., 'I felt exultation when I found my keys.').
Incorrect preposition: 'exultation for' is less standard than 'exultation at/in/over'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

After the final verdict was read, a sense of swept through the courtroom.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences uses 'exultation' most appropriately?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it's a C2-level, low-frequency word. It is used in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts rather than everyday conversation.
: They are very close synonyms. 'Exultation' often emphasizes a more personal, triumphant feeling from a specific success, while 'jubilation' can describe a more general, often communal, atmosphere of joyful celebration.
: Yes, if it describes joy at someone else's defeat or misfortune, it can imply gloating or boastfulness (e.g., 'his exultation over his rival's failure').
: Use it with prepositions like 'at', 'in', or 'over' to show the cause: 'exultation at the victory', 'exultation in winning', 'exultation over a rival'. It often follows verbs like 'feel', 'express', or 'be filled with'.