exuberance
Americannoun
-
Also exuberancy. the state of being exuberant.
-
an instance of this.
His pranks are youthful exuberances.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exuberance
From the Latin word exūberantia, dating back to 1630–40. See exuberant, -ance
Explanation
Use exuberance to describe joyful enthusiasm and liveliness. You appreciate the natural exuberance of small children, but you prefer to enjoy it from a distance. The noun exuberance comes from the adjective exuberant, which itself came from a Latin word that originally described an overflowing supply of milk from the udder of a cow or goat! The word still means "overflowing," not with milk but with joy and enthusiasm. After your winning home run, the fans ran onto the field and, in their exuberance, carried you off on their shoulders . . . before you touched home plate.
Vocabulary lists containing exuberance
An Inspirational Back-to-School Word List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words inspired by "Inside Out"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Things They Carried
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Greenspan is most well-known for his 1996 speech in which he mused about irrational exuberance in the financial markets.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
Japan’s Nikkei hit a fresh record as AI exuberance flowed back into the market following Micron’s earnings, while Nasdaq futures are up by more than 2%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
The market, said Greenspan, had exhibited "irrational exuberance".
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Some Chinese stocks are already mimicking the U.S. exuberance for AI, bringing their valuations far beyond bargain territory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
As you would expect from a great salesman, he has a kind of natural exuberance.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
