exhilarate

verb

ex·​hil·​a·​rate ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrāt 

exhilarated; exhilarating

transitive verb

: to make (someone) very happy and excited or elated

was exhilarated by her success

It's a demanding dining experience that may exhaust and exasperate some customers, but exhilarate those who desire a challenge more than comfort.

—Thomas Matthews

Uncle George tells stories … and exhilarates everybody with his good humour and hospitality.

—Charles Dickens

When antislavery senator Charles Sumner was honored in a demonstration that exhilarated antebellum Boston, Louisa was there …

—Madeleine B. Stern

exhilarative

ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiv 

adjective

Did you know?

Many people find exhilarate a difficult word to spell. It's easy to forget that silent "h" in there, and is it an "er" or "ar" after the "l"? It may be easier to remember the spelling if you know that exhilarate ultimately derives from the Latin adjective hilarus, meaning "cheerful." (This also explains why the earliest meaning of exhilarate is "to make cheerful.") Exhilarate comes from exhilaratus, the past participle of exhilarare, which is formed by combining ex- and hilarare, a verb that derives from hilarus and means "to cheer or gladden." If hilarus looks familiar, that may be because it's also the source of hilarious and hilarity (as well as hilariously and hilariousness, of course).

Synonyms

• thrill
• excite
• electrify
• delight

Examples of exhilarate in a Sentence

the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers

the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike

Recent Examples on the Web

Entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of exhilarating wins and devastating losses—and not every person is cut out for the career. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025

Exhausting, exhilarating softball in which to spend my body’s force—that in the morning—then in the afternoon, the brimming, hearty stew of family life. —Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025

Apocalypse was hailed as a refreshing multi-season crossover for the franchise, harnessing its penchant for grisly mayhem and subversive fun in exhilarating fashion while bringing back beloved characters from previous seasons in a truly wild AHS mash-up. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025

But Gil and the Kills were a combustible bunch, and life on the road with a hard-driving band, while exhilarating, was ultimately no place for a little girl. —Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin exhilaratus, past participle of exhilarare, from ex- + hilarare to gladden, from hilarus cheerful — more at hilarious

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for exhilarate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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Kids Definition

exhilarate

verb

ex·​hil·​a·​rate ig-ˈzil-ə-ˌrāt 

exhilarated; exhilarating

: to cause to feel cheerful or lively : put into high spirits

the fresh air exhilarated us

exhilarative

-ˌrāt-iv 

adjective