exhilarate

[ ig-zil-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·hil·a·rat·ed, ex·hil·a·rat·ing.

1. to enliven; invigorate; stimulate:

   The cold weather exhilarated the walkers.

   Synonyms: elate, inspirit, animate

   Antonyms: depress

2. to make cheerful or merry.

   Synonyms: gladden, cheer

   Antonyms: depress

exhilarate

/ ɪɡˈzɪləˌreɪt /

verb

1. tr to make lively and cheerful; gladden; elate

Derived Forms

• exˌhilaˈration, noun
• exˈhilarative, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·hila·rating·ly adverb
• ex·hila·rator noun
• unex·hila·rated adjective
• unex·hila·rating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhilarate¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin exhilarātus, past participle of exhilarāre “to gladden,” equivalent to ex- “from, out of, beyond” + hilarāre “to cheer” ( hilarity ); ex- ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exhilarate¹

C16: from Latin exhilarāre, from hilarāre to cheer; see hilarious

Example Sentences

When I started five and a half years ago at the Ford Foundation, straight from the classroom, I was exhilarated by my new work but I missed the classroom in a very tangible way.

From Time

When the 1-millimeter-wide Xenobots were first unveiled to the world last year, scientists were exhilarated by their ability to swim out and self-assemble into larger tissues.

From The Daily Beast

The experience of working at the Pushkin, where the reproductions of her university textbooks were replaced by genuine works of art, exhilarated her.

From Washington Post

You can open this volume to any page and find sentences that surprise, cause laughter, exhilarate, and often do all three at once.

From The Daily Beast

I almost envy you the excitement of golf, which helps the fresh air to exhilarate, and gives variety of exercise.

From Project Gutenberg

Though he had just heard so much to exhilarate him, he was not, on the whole, free from melancholy.

From Project Gutenberg

Study well these books, sigor; for, believe me, you will find that they will exhilarate and improve your mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Wit serves to amuse or exhilarate but rarely produces useful reflection or an improvement of mind.

From Project Gutenberg

And as you increase it, or substitute for it vibrations more rapid against those myriad nerves, you exhilarate or intoxicate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• animate
• elate
• exalt
• excite
• thrill
• uplift