exultation
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exultation
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin ex ( s ) ultātiōn- (stem of ex ( s ) ultātiō ), equivalent to ex ( s ) ultāt ( us ) (past participle of ex ( s ) ultāre to exult ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
"Woohoo!" That's an expression you might shout in exultation or extreme happiness. On New Year's Eve, Times Square is bursting with exultation as people shout and sing joyfully to ring in the new year. Exultation comes from the Latin exsilire, which means "leap out or up." Think of leaping for joy and you've pretty much captured the sentiment of exultation. This word is used to describe a kind of triumphant joy, the kind you might see at the end of a football game when the winning team is pumping their fists, cheering and dumping Gatorade all over their coach.
Vocabulary lists containing exultation
The Great Gatsby
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!
Emotions on Display
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!
Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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.
Alexa obeyed, and the uplifting ode to happiness from the Broadway classic “Oklahoma!” filled Swerlin’s home with exultation in honor of two lives well lived.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2024
Awash in critical exultation, the movie rolled into theaters on Christmas Day and sold more than $18 million in tickets, a near record for the holiday.
From New York Times ● Jan. 7, 2024
Or was it simply an overflow of exultation that they couldn’t audibly express?
From Salon ● Nov. 13, 2023
The 45-minute epic is a work of unfettered exultation and radical religiosity, as weird as it is wondrous.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2023
His momentary burst of exultation, and his feeling of superiority over Hooper counted for nothing, they were always short-lived.
From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill
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.
