Dictionary.com
definitions

enthuse

[en-thooz]
See more synonyms for enthuse on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.
  1. to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby.
verb (used with object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.
  1. to cause to become enthusiastic.

Origin of enthuse

1820–30, Americanism; back formation from enthusiasm
Related formsqua·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. 2018

Related Words for enthuses

thrill, faze, excite, touch, affect, awe, sway, inspire, prompt, stir, incite, motivate, induce, generate, inflame, elicit, arouse, galvanize, kindle, precipitate

Examples from the Web for enthuses

Contemporary Examples of enthuses

Historical Examples of enthuses

British Dictionary definitions for enthuses

enthuse

verb
  1. 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
Word Origin and History for enthuses

enthuse

v.

1827, American English, back-formation from enthusiasm. Originally often humorous or with affected ignorance. Related: enthused; enthusing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper