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.
But I remember her earrings, and the pants, and how much fun it was to meet someone who was so enthusiastic about something so delightfully specific.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
Badenoch and Burnham both look like they are enjoying themselves on the stage, and are both enthusiastic purveyors of the core of what are their very different worldviews.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The NSO’s debut at Strathmore was a well-attended event with an enthusiastic audience listening to music by Tchaikovsky, Carlos Simon and Ottorino Respighi by way of Rossini.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Morgan Stanley isn't so enthusiastic about the home builder.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
I am not very enthusiastic because it doesn’t do one’s clothes any good and a man is lousy again inside two hours.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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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.
