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.
Microsoft seemed more enthusiastic about decarbonization before the data center boom.
From Slate • May 3, 2026
Leading into the report, investors had become enthusiastic about a report saying that Qualcomm was being tapped to work with OpenAI on chips for an agentic-AI smartphone.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026
In the case of “Pretty Ugly,” there are some top-tier folks, and they are all enthusiastic without prompting.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
Nasdaq’s bump today could signal that investors are once again enthusiastic about artificial intelligence stocks, but it also means that expectations are sky high.
From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026
I was expecting an enthusiastic response, not… whatever this is.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
