enthusiastically
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enthusiastically
First recorded in 1725–35; enthusiastic ( def. ) + -ally ( def. )
Explanation
When you do something enthusiastically, you do it with excitement and eagerness. You might enthusiastically accept your grandmother's invitation to join her on a European cruise. If you love your job, you'll tend to work enthusiastically, and when your favorite band is playing, you'll wait enthusiastically for them to take the stage. Enthusiastically is a great adverb for describing anything you do cheerfully, or with enthusiasm. The adjective enthusiastic originally meant "possessed by a god," and it comes from the Greek word entheos, "divinely inspired or possessed," combining the roots en, "in," and theos, "god."
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiastically
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.
Dressed in a navy blue suit and flanked by stone-faced Secret Service agents, Harris casually approached a cluster of reporters, one of whom asked enthusiastically, “Madam Vice President, what’d you get?”
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
"There's enough capital to enthusiastically embrace these three companies if they are priced correctly," Roberts said.
From Barron's • May 17, 2026
Workers and retirees, the poor and the more affluent, and Republicans and Democrats all enthusiastically support the Social Security program.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026
Norway is drilling enthusiastically again in the North Sea, uncovering large new deposits of oil.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
All the dogs thumped their tails and barked enthusiastically.
From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman
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.
