enthuse
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Usage
The verb enthuse is a 19th-century back formation from the noun enthusiasm. Originally an Americanism, enthuse is now standard and well established in the speech and all but the most formal writing of educated persons, in both Britain and the United States. It is used as a transitive verb meaning “to cause to become enthusiastic” ( The liveliness of the dance enthused the audience ) and as an intransitive verb meaning “to show enthusiasm” ( She enthused warmly over his performance ). Despite its long history and frequent occurrence, however, enthuse is still strongly disapproved of by many.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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enthusesimple
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enthusessimple
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have enthusedperfect
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has enthusedperfect
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am enthusingprogressive
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are enthusingprogressive
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is enthusingprogressive
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have been enthusingperfect progressive
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has been enthusingperfect progressive
Past
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enthusedsimple
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had enthusedperfect
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was enthusingprogressive
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were enthusingprogressive
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had been enthusingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enthuse
1820–30, back formation from enthusiasm
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.
See Examples For:
His presence campaigning can enthuse his true-blue supporters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
While some tech enthusiasts enthuse about AI’s potential benefits, others fear job losses and safety issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2024
Another promising attacking display from the bench by Williams, who has scored three times so far this term, should further enthuse Marc Skinner when he considers the depth of his side's talent.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2023
From the world-famous Keukenhof garden in the Netherlands to the magical bluebell Hallerbos forest in Belgium, they are out there again, almost on cue to enthrall, enthuse and soothe the mind.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2023
Meanwhile, those same gossipers will have found yet some other newcomer about whom to enthuse.
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Wydra is the one actress outside the ‘Pitt’ crew to get the most attention: “She’s convincingly vacant and content as Zosia, a woman brainwashed by an alien virus,” enthuses Lorraine Ali.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026
Waters still enthuses about pickleball like those neighbors who can’t stop talking about their Saturday group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Her eyes light up as she enthuses about the banksia species from her native Australia.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2025
“We don’t think any festival has focused on live sports yet, and it’s a huge part of television,” McIntyre enthuses about the Dodgers panel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2025
A woman at the table enthuses about greyhound racing, the speed, the charge she feels watching it.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, with a pair of recruits the national party is enthused about.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
As he talks about how his film has both stayed true to its ancient source and speaks to today, Nolan is simultaneously enthused and sure of himself in a selfless way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
Partygoers seemed more enthused about the vendor selling beaded plushie necklaces than about heading to the dance floor.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
However, the stock is up 57% over the past three months, with shareholders enthused by the company’s shift into AI chips.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026
And, okay, if we’re being perfectly honest, I sound < enthused, too.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
I toured her house, and she was so happy with it, enthusing over its details.
From Slate ● Jan. 18, 2025
Willem Dafoe reflects on his past roles, from ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ to ‘The Florida Project,’ enthusing about the wire work he did on ‘Spider-Man.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024
By acknowledging what lands onstage, even enthusing about it, Drake takes control of the narrative.
From New York Times ● Aug. 2, 2023
Late in the film, when a neighbor stops by Lydia’s studio to complain about the noise she’s making, she initially misunderstands, flashing a camera-ready smile and enthusing with fake modesty, “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
From Washington Post ● Oct. 12, 2022
I went on down to that pea-patch as innocent as a newly born lamb, with Peter walking beside me, enthusing over the landscape and swinging the light basket with elegant nonchalance.
From Over Paradise Ridge A Romance by Daviess, Maria Thompson
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.
