enthusiastic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of enthusiastic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Greek enthousiastikós; see enthusiast ( def. ), -ic ( def. )
Explanation
Enthusiastic appreciation for something is more than just liking it — it's loving it. You're an enthusiastic fan of Italian food if you not only like it, you can't live without it. Enthusiastic's Greek origins paint a vivid picture of how an enthusiastic person got that way, as the word literally means "possessed by a god." You may recognize the "god" part of the word — theos, as in theology — "the study of God." If you're enthusiastic about working on your vocabulary words, you don't have to be reminded to do it — you can't wait.
Vocabulary lists containing enthusiastic
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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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.
The draft arrived with a different byline and an explanation from the flack that “we actually found an even more enthusiastic author,” the leader of a conservative advocacy organization.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Jessica Pegula was less enthusiastic, calling some of the behavior “disrespectful.”
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
She is now an enthusiastic gardener, and one of thousands of young people sharing their green-fingered ways on social media.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
What is even more interesting is Tavitian’s enthusiastic response to works noteworthy not for elaboration but for economy, directness and intimacy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
He’d been a little too enthusiastic, sending most of the coffee dregs flying at her.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
