excitement
Americannoun
-
an excited state or condition.
- Synonyms:
- ado, commotion, perturbation
- Antonyms:
- serenity
-
something that excites.
noun
-
the state of being excited
-
a person or thing that excites; stimulation or thrill
Related Words
See agitation.
Other Word Forms
- hyperexcitement noun
- superexcitement noun
Etymology
Origin of excitement
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English excitament, “encouragement,” from Medieval Latin excitāmentum; excite + -ment
Explanation
Excitement is a feeling or situation full of activity, joy, exhilaration, or upheaval. One thing about excitement — it sure isn't boring. There are a few types of excitement, but they're all exciting — they get your attention. If you can't wait for your birthday, you're feeling a happy kind of excitement. If everyone in class is screaming and throwing things, the teacher might ask, "What's all the excitement about?" A sleeping dog is resting — no excitement there. But a dog that’s jumping, barking, and running in circles when his owner comes home is feeling and causing a lot of excitement.
Vocabulary lists containing excitement
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 3
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-ment
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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.
Intel shares have benefited from foundry and CPU optimism — but the excitement may be out of step with reality, analysts say.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
Most recently, he shared on Instagram his excitement of being among the executive producers for the upcoming film “Kockroach.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
“I’m just some researcher. Yet I was able to push back against a strong and publicly stated opinion from the top leadership to rally excitement for this feature. This is what Netflix is all about.”
From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026
Capitalising on this mix of fear and excitement over AI and its future impact has also become a hallmark of the sector and its marketing strategies in recent years.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
As I gaze out the window from my seat next to Teresita, I feel my heart beating with excitement and a tinge of fear.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
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.
