effervescent
Americanadjective
-
effervescing; bubbling.
-
vivacious; merry; lively; sparkling.
- Synonyms:
- lighthearted, enthusiastic, ebullient, animated
adjective
-
(of a liquid) giving off bubbles of gas; bubbling
-
high-spirited; vivacious
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of effervescent
First recorded in 1675–85; from Latin effervēscent- (stem of effervēscēns ), present participle of effervēscere to effervesce; see -ent
Explanation
Something effervescent has bubbles or froth, like a sparkling cider or a bubble bath. If you have a happy, light, cheerful personality — if you are "bubbly" — you too are effervescent. Coming from the Latin effervēscere, the original meaning was more boiling than bubbly, thanks to the ferv part, which means "hot." The word literally refers to bubbles giving off gas, and any drinks you enjoy that are nose-ticklingly effervescent make bubbles that pop and release into the air. Remember, someone with an effervescent personality is just bubbly, not full of gas!
Vocabulary lists containing effervescent
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Grade 10, List 2
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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.
This is the drink I want after a long afternoon spent outside: effervescent and bright, but with an undercurrent of smoke and brine.
From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026
Models emerged from the smoky haze in effervescent hues of yellow, purple, and orange.
From Barron's ● May 14, 2026
Mr. West is infamously unpredictable, and his effervescent, volatile persona is key to his selling out arenas in South Korea, Mexico and the U.S. well into his career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
But the effervescent co-host of the hit “Girls Gotta Eat” podcast will do more than just tell her “crazy, insane stories for an hour.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026
Jenny beamed at her as she said something that Dimple was sure were effervescent compliments, but every time Jenny opened her mouth, all Dimple could hear were beeps.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
