enthusiastic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enthusiastic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Greek enthousiastikós; see enthusiast ( def. ), -ic ( def. )
Explanation
Enthusiastic appreciation for something is more than just liking it — it's loving it. You're an enthusiastic fan of Italian food if you not only like it, you can't live without it. Enthusiastic's Greek origins paint a vivid picture of how an enthusiastic person got that way, as the word literally means "possessed by a god." You may recognize the "god" part of the word — theos, as in theology — "the study of God." If you're enthusiastic about working on your vocabulary words, you don't have to be reminded to do it — you can't wait.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiastic
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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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.
On Monday, actor Jake Johnson got an enthusiastic round of applause when he announced onstage that NBC’s new show “Sunset P.I.” would be filming in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
An enthusiastic fan of the Royal Family who was reportedly nicknamed "The Union Jack Man" by the late Queen Elizabeth II has died, aged 91.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
The most enthusiastic users have even bought programmable foot pedals, a gaming accessory, so they can activate Wispr with their toes.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
Gayner tells Barron’s that the board will evaluate the Jana letter, but he didn’t sound enthusiastic about it.
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
I didn’t know if Coach Mustilli was crazy or just super enthusiastic, but something about what he said sent shivers of excitement up and down my spine.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
