adjective
Synonym Usage
See active.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of energetic
First recorded in 1645–55; from Greek energētikós, from energē- (from en- en- 2 + ergē-, variant stem of ergeîn “to be active”; see energy) + -tikos -tic
Explanation
Energetic describes someone who has lots of get-up-and-go. When you decide to jog alongside the bus instead of taking it to work, you are energetic — so energetic that it tires the rest of the commuters out just watching you. Energetic comes from the Greek, energetikos, meaning “active.” When you are energetic, you're active with enthusiasm and excitement to spare. Energetic describes those little kids you babysit, who never sit still and force you to play hide and seek. Energetic can also mean a powerful focused effort, where you work hard to achieve something. The energetic bond between the men was formed after months of training together in the military.
Vocabulary lists containing energetic
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Hooked on a Feeling, List 3
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 6
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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.
The observatory detects only a few dozen of the most energetic examples each year.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
The men are “all taken with her, the energetic glimmer in her blue eyes, her feisty determination, her international charm,” Mr. Makos writes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The researchers found clear experimental evidence that the two-electron process was producing unusually energetic X-rays.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Despite his energetic campaigning, Hilton is simply not that.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
“But she wasn’t a negative person. She didn’t bring down the mood of the group. She was energetic and upbeat almost every day.”
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
