enthuse

verb

en·​thuse in-ˈthüz How to pronounce enthuse (audio)
en-,
 also  -ˈthyüz
enthused; enthusing

transitive verb

1
: to make enthusiastic
is enthused about the project
2
: to express with enthusiasm

intransitive verb

: to show enthusiasm
a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over itJulian Huxley
Usage of Enthuse

Enthuse is apparently American in origin, although the earliest known example of its use occurs in a letter written in 1827 by a young Scotsman who spent about two years in the Pacific Northwest. It has been disapproved since about 1870. Current evidence shows it to be flourishing nonetheless on both sides of the Atlantic especially in journalistic prose.

Examples of enthuse in a Sentence

“This dinner is wonderful!” he enthused. His presentation failed to enthuse the committee.
Recent Examples on the Web Many of the winners enthused about Lanthimos’ creative, risk-taking vision in their acceptance speeches, although the director himself didn’t win. Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024 Soon after getting the job, Baker received a phone call from Melvin, who wasn’t the only one enthused about the hire. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2024 In an effort to enthuse voters, the election commission sent text messages to voters' mobile phones to remind them of their responsibility to take part in the vote. Ayat Al-Tawy, ABC News, 15 Dec. 2023 Talking about Los Angeles, Binoche will enthuse about many things — the weather (of course), friends, the contrasts in traditions. Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 Nov. 2023 He was enthused about interviewing for the managerial job. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2023 At issue is Allen v. Milligan, a case which Matt Ford recently enthused as a rare instance in which the Roberts Court actually did something good on voting rights: a 5–4 ruling that the state of Alabama had to draw a second majority-Black congressional district. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 6 Oct. 2023 Ashton Kutcher, an investor who has installed the furniture in his house, enthused about the company on Kelly Clarkson’s show in February. Patricia Marx, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023 Executive producer Michael Patrick King enthused in a press release about opportunity to tell the stories of the show’s iconic characters: Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) — as well as the new additions who've joined AJLT in seasons 1 and 2. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enthuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from enthusiasm

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enthuse was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near enthuse

Cite this Entry

“Enthuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthuse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enthuse

verb
en·​thuse in-ˈth(y)üz How to pronounce enthuse (audio)
enthused; enthusing
1
: to make enthusiastic
2
: to show enthusiasm

More from Merriam-Webster on enthuse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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