thrilling
Americanadjective
-
producing sudden, strong, and deep emotion or excitement.
-
producing a tremor, as by chilling.
-
vibrating; trembling; quivering.
adjective
-
very exciting or stimulating
-
vibrating or trembling
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of thrilling
Explanation
When something is thrilling, it makes you feel excited or exhilarated. Roller coasters are thrilling for some people—other people just find them nauseating. If your heart is beating fast and you feel absolutely elated, something thrilling is happening. Some of us find it thrilling to speak in front of a crowd or to dive into a cold lake. It's also thrilling to see your favorite movie star in person or to get a poem published in a magazine. The adjective thrilling comes from the verb thrill, which originally meant "pierce," and later "give a shivering excitement" or "pierce with emotion."
Vocabulary lists containing thrilling
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Amazing, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
And the shares seem to trade higher with each subsequent night of Jalen Brunson heroics—they rose 2% to a fresh record last Thursday following the Knicks’ thrilling Game 1 win.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
“At a minimum, two people are required; and the more players there are on each side, the more thrilling and the more fun it becomes,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
Ayrton Senna held off the much faster Williams of Nigel Mansell in a thrilling conclusion to the 1992 grand prix.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's shocking challenge on Patrick Battiston, a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time, the first penalty shootout in World Cup history.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Duane gave a sigh of relief for Magic while he turned toward the front of the toboggan, toward the portion of the thrilling adventure ride that was still unfinished and awaiting.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
