enthuse

[ en-thooz ]

/ ɛnˈθuz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR enthuse ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.

to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby.

verb (used with object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.

to cause to become enthusiastic.

RELATED WORDS

excited, eager

Nearby words

enthral, enthrall, enthralling, enthrone, enthronement, enthuse, enthusiasm, enthusiast, enthusiastic, enthymeme, entia

Origin of enthuse

1820–30, Americanism; back formation from enthusiasm

Related forms

qua·si-en·thused, adjectiveun·en·thused, adjective

Usage note

The verb enthuse is a 19th-century back formation from the noun enthusiasm. Originally an Americanism, enthuse is now standard and well established in the speech and all but the most formal writing of educated persons, in both Britain and the United States. It is used as a transitive verb meaning “to cause to become enthusiastic” ( The liveliness of the dance enthused the audience ) and as an intransitive verb meaning “to show enthusiasm” ( She enthused warmly over his performance ). Despite its long history and frequent occurrence, however, enthuse is still strongly disapproved of by many.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for enthused

Almost everything in it has potential for bipartisan support, he enthused.
Paul Ryan’s Plan: Rebooting Compassionate Conservatism|Eleanor Clift|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What a sauce that is,” he enthused, “which dresses an oyster I suck from the mouth of the woman I love!
Seduce Like a Writer: How 7 Famous Scribes Wooed|Joni Rendon, Shannon McKenna Schmidt|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Online, the reaction to the congress was less than enthused, especially on Chinese microblogs collectively known as Weibo.
Who Will Become China’s New Men in Black?|Dan Levin|November 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Jewish voters in Florida, according to a report in the Forward, are less than enthused about this presidential election.
Florida, Obama and Israel|Ali Gharib|October 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST

“I realized the meaning of life after watching this,” enthused one recent commenter.
10 Outrageous Attack Ads: Bain, Burning Money, & More (Videos)|The Daily Beast Video|August 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He was enthused by the possibilities that thronged his imagination.
Nedra|George Barr McCutcheon
Molly enthused with sparkling eyes, adding quickly, "I hope he's not very badly wounded?"
The Hermit of Far End|Margaret Pedler
"It's a glorious day," Phyllis enthused as they entered the park and headed toward the zoo.
Phyllis|Dorothy Whitehill
He levied tribute upon the liberties of an enthused imagination.
The Riddle Of The Rocks|Charles Egbert Craddock (AKA Mary Noailles Murfree)
I was so enthused over him that I went to my room and wrote a letter home trying to describe him.
Booker T. Washington|Emmett J. Scott and Lyman Beecher Stowe

British Dictionary definitions for enthused

enthuse

/ (ɪnˈθjuːz) /

verb

to feel or show or cause to feel or show enthusiasm

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