alacrity
noun
alac·ri·ty
ə-ˈla-krə-tē 
: promptness in response : cheerful readiness
accepted the invitation with alacrity
Did you know?
Alacrity Predates Shakespeare
“I have not that alacrity of spirit / Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have,” says William Shakespeare’s King Richard III in the play that bears his name. Alas and alack, Richard! Alacrity comes from the Latin word alacer, meaning “lively” or “eager,” and suggests physical quickness coupled with eagerness or enthusiasm. Thus, a spirit that lacks alacrity—like Richard III’s—is in the doldrums, in need of a little (to use a much less formal word than alacrity) get-up-and-go.
Examples of alacrity in a Sentence
Surely one of the most striking features of human dynamics is the alacrity with which those who have been oppressed will oppress whomever they can once the opportunity presents itself.
—
Randall Kennedy, Atlantic, May 1997
Every Disney worker I spoke to, from ticket sellers to gardeners sprucing up already-immaculate flower beds, knew the answer to my questions and responded with smiling alacrity.
—Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 1990
… when he entered the drawing room before dinner, the buzz of discussion was high between Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates; and Mr. Rushworth stepped forward with great alacrity to tell him the agreeable news.
—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
She accepted the invitation with an alacrity that surprised me.
having just acquired his driver's license that morning, the teen agreed with alacrity to drive his cousin to the airport
Randall Kennedy, Atlantic, May 1997
Every Disney worker I spoke to, from ticket sellers to gardeners sprucing up already-immaculate flower beds, knew the answer to my questions and responded with smiling alacrity.
—Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 1990
… when he entered the drawing room before dinner, the buzz of discussion was high between Tom, Maria, and Mr. Yates; and Mr. Rushworth stepped forward with great alacrity to tell him the agreeable news.
—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
She accepted the invitation with an alacrity that surprised me.
having just acquired his driver's license that morning, the teen agreed with alacrity to drive his cousin to the airport
Recent Examples on the Web
That being said, the appearance of appearing to bend the knee to Trump with such alacrity has caused widespread alarm in legal circles.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, Trump's tariffs are also leading to more alacrity from the central government.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
That level of alacrity and impeccable timing is, sadly, lacking in Michael John Garces’ direction.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Government forces retreated with unexpected alacrity.
—John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for alacrity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, Trump's tariffs are also leading to more alacrity from the central government.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
That level of alacrity and impeccable timing is, sadly, lacking in Michael John Garces’ direction.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Government forces retreated with unexpected alacrity.
—John Feffer, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for alacrity
Cite this Entry
“Alacrity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alacrity. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alacrity
noun
alac·ri·ty
ə-ˈlak-rət-ē
: a cheerful readiness to do something
accepted with alacrity
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share