enthusiastic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- antienthusiastic adjective
- enthusiastically adverb
- hyperenthusiastic adjective
- nonenthusiastic adjective
- overenthusiastic adjective
- pseudoenthusiastic adjective
- quasi-enthusiastic adjective
- unenthusiastic adjective
Etymology
Origin of enthusiastic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Greek enthousiastikós; enthusiast ( def. ), -ic ( def. )
Explanation
Enthusiastic appreciation for something is more than just liking it — it's loving it. You're an enthusiastic fan of Italian food if you not only like it, you can't live without it. Enthusiastic's Greek origins paint a vivid picture of how an enthusiastic person got that way, as the word literally means "possessed by a god." You may recognize the "god" part of the word — theos, as in theology — "the study of God." If you're enthusiastic about working on your vocabulary words, you don't have to be reminded to do it — you can't wait.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiastic
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It also writes instructions on the kind of responses you prefer: less enthusiastic writing, perhaps, or bullet points instead of long-winded paragraphs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
My social feeds are largely filled with enthusiastic folks, but a noticeable amount of posts are highly defensive about the cost, both in terms of finances and attention.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
Dr. Kristina Voss, an ophthalmologist with Keck Medicine of USC, was enthusiastic about the Eyeball Care treatment.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
Magyar, 45, is a former Fidesz insider who joined the party as an enthusiastic student, married the former Fidesz justice minister, and worked as a Hungarian diplomat in Brussels.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Sasha was a strong swimmer, enthusiastic about breaststroke and intent on mastering the butterfly.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
