enthusiasm
Americannoun
-
enthusiasm
plural
-
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
-
obsolete possession or inspiration by a god
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
That’s usually a sign of a lack of enthusiasm, and it doesn’t bode well for Tuesday’s results.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
You have to maintain your enthusiasm for looking after yourself, because this is the time when you will need it the most.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Her enthusiasm for the Mexican tradition came from her oldest sister, who frequently dubbed it her favorite holiday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Micron stock was rising as SK Hynix earnings fueled enthusiasm for memory-chip companies.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
Teddy launches himself into her arms, and she shoots me a sympathetic smile that seems to say, “We’re going to need a little more than effort and enthusiasm to make this work.”
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
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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.
