noun
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a person filled with or motivated by enthusiasm; fanatic
-
archaic a religious visionary, esp one whose zeal for religion is extravagant or unbalanced
Other Word Forms
- antienthusiast noun
Etymology
Origin of enthusiast
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek enthousiastḗs “inspired person, possessed person,” from enthousí(a) “possession by a god” ( enthusiasm ) + -astēs -ast ( def. ) (variant of -istēs -ist after i )
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.
The death comes as rattlesnakes are beginning to appear on trails across Orange County earlier in the season, according to outdoor enthusiasts and animal control officials.
From Los Angeles Times
This week, Kate Clark reports on the tech enthusiasts setting their bots to work when they go to sleep or to parties, and then checking on them regularly.
A railway enthusiast at the station told AFP he was taking the train only one stop and would disembark at Tianjin.
From Barron's
Walking with Clumbers is an enthusiasts' and social group set up 10 years ago by Barbara Weston, from Coalville in Leicestershire.
From BBC
It’s a dream destination for car enthusiasts, builders and DIYers, though even casual visitors will find plenty to enjoy.
From Salon
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.
