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gusto

American  
[guhs-toh] / ˈgʌs toʊ /

noun

plural

gustoes

  1. hearty or keen enjoyment, as in eating or drinking, or in action or speech in general.

    to dance with gusto.
    Synonyms:
    fervor, spirit, zest, relish, delight, enthusiasm

  2. individual taste or liking.

    The boy is an imaginative charmer, with a gusto for storytelling.

  3. Archaic. artistic style or taste.

gusto British  
/ ˈɡʌstəʊ /

noun

  1. vigorous enjoyment, zest, or relish, esp in the performance of an action

    the aria was sung with great gusto
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gusto

First recorded in 1620–30; from Italian, from Latin gustus; gust 2

Explanation

You can do many things with gusto, or hearty enthusiasm, whether it's eating a steak, playing table tennis, or cheering on your favorite team. Some people live their whole lives with gusto. Since the 17th century, gusto has been helping English speakers describe things that are done with vigor and enthusiasm. Gusto is Italian for “taste,” and its Italian origins are evident both in its spelling, with its “o” ending, and its sense of “a taste for life." Use this word to describe vigorous activities — you probably wouldn’t "take a nap with gusto," even if you really enjoy napping. You're more likely to cheer on your favorite team or dance the tango with gusto.

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Vocabulary lists containing gusto

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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.

Writer-director Ian Tuason, in his first feature, handles the second of these assignments with gusto: The movie generates a pleasing fog of suspense as it makes the audience pay attention to each new audio cue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Fist clenched over his heart, Westlake belted out God Save the Queen with such gusto, that images were shared widely across the internet, spawning a hashtag #DoItLikeHarry.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Only 39, he took up the role with gusto, launching into an anti-crime drive that proved popular with the electorate but not enough to keep his head off the chopping block.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Rep. Jamie Raskin unpacks the AG Pam Bondi hearing with gusto; Trump remakes DC in his own image; and the complexities of patriotism at the Olympics.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026

Yossarian got a tremendous kick out of the rude gusto with which Luciana ignored him completely while she shoveled away her whole meal with both hands.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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.