ebullient

adjective

ebul·​lient i-ˈbu̇l-yənt 

-ˈbəl-

1

: boiling, agitated

2

: characterized by ebullience : having or showing liveliness and enthusiasm

ebullient performers

ebulliently adverb

Did you know?

Someone who is ebullient is bubbling over with enthusiasm, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that ebullient comes from the Latin verb ebullire, which means "to bubble out." When ebullient was first used in the late 1500s its meaning hewed closely to its Latin source: ebullient meant "boiling" or "bubbling," and described things like boiling water and boiling oil instead of someone's bubbly personality. Only later did the word's meaning broaden beyond describing the liveliness of a boiling liquid to encompass emotional liveliness and enthusiasm.

Examples of ebullient in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Globes’ tendency to hand out multiple nominations to the same performer across TV and movie categories is so excessive and ebullient — abbondanza culture but for awards shows. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2025

Down overflows with ebullient confidence, whereas Kay is more anxious and cerebral. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025

The previous episode's gruesome case casts a pall over the entire hospital, but Katherine LaNasa's snarky and ebullient charge nurse Dana Evans alone manages to break like a sun ray through the fearsome clouds — which makes the episode's violent end all the more shocking. —Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025

His turn in the lead role captures a reinvigorated crank-pot revealed as both ebullient and energizing. —Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin ebullient-, ebulliens, present participle of ebullire to bubble out, from e- + bullire to bubble, boil — more at boil

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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