enthusiasm
Americannoun
-
absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest.
He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies.
- Antonyms:
- indifference
-
an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown.
Hunting is his latest enthusiasm.
-
any of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.
noun
-
ardent and lively interest or eagerness
-
an object of keen interest; passion
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archaic extravagant or unbalanced religious fervour
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obsolete possession or inspiration by a god
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enthusiasm
First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin enthūsiasmus, from Greek enthousiasmós, from enthousí(a) “possession by a god” ( énthous, variant of éntheos “having a god within,” from en- en- 2 + -thous, -theos “possessed by a god” + -ia -y 3 ( def. ) ) + -asmos, variant (after vowel stems) of -ismos -ism; cf. theism ( def. )
Explanation
You might show enthusiasm if you find out that all the shoes are on sale for 70 percent off today. The word enthusiasm indicates intense excitement. The noun enthusiasm comes from the Greek word enthousiasmos, from enthous, meaning “possessed by a god, inspired.” It was originally used in a derogatory sense to describe excessive religious zeal. Today both the religious and derogatory connotations are gone from enthusiasm, but the zeal has survived. Use it to describe great excitement or interest, like what you feel when you’re doing something that you really, really enjoy.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiasm
Emotions on Display
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"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh"
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 9
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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.
Selected by the author of the forthcoming book “Verb Your Enthusiasm: How to Master the Art of the Verb and Transform Your Writing.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Scott said, “I want to do this show about your family, kind of like ‘The Osbournes’; I want to do a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
Enthusiasm among investors about massive AI spending has helped several tech firms outperform the broader S&P 500.
From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025
Enthusiasm over Nvidia’s earnings report and what its forecast suggested about the artificial intelligence trade was short-lived, dragging down tech stocks and Bitcoin, which continued its slide early Friday to its lowest level since April.
From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025
Enthusiasm, in Sprat’s view, by making false claims of divine intervention in the world, simply offered hostages to unbelief.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
