ecstatic

adjective ec·stat·ic \ ek-ˈsta-tik , ik-ˈsta- \

Definition of ecstatic

:of, relating to, or marked by ecstasy

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ecstatically

play \ek-ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē, ik-ˈsta-\ adverb

See ecstatic defined for English-language learners

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Examples of ecstatic in a Sentence

A few religious denominations—Pentecostalism, for example—still offer a collective ecstatic experience, as did rock culture at its height. But the ecstatic religions tend to be marginal, and rock has been tamed for commercial consumption … —Barbara Ehrenreich, Civilization, June/July 2000
… in dietary terms we are veritable troglodytes (which, speaking personally, is all right by me). I think this explains a lot, not least my expanding sense of dismay as the waiter bombarded us with ecstatic descriptions of roulades, ratatouilles, empanadas, langostinos … and goodness knows what else. —Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
He was ecstatic when he heard that he was going to be a father.
a football player who was ecstatic upon receiving a full athletic scholarship to the college of his choice

Recent Examples of ecstatic from the Web

Needless to say, Lushies were ecstatic, to say the least, with this decision.

— kaleigh fasanella, Allure, "Why Fans Are So Obsessed With Lush’s Sleepy Body Lotion," 29 Aug. 2017
Zach would like a family that likes dogs and (possibly) cats, and would be ecstatic if he were allowed to have a dog of his own — specifically a golden retriever.

— kansascity, "Zach, 11, wants a family — preferably one with pets," 12 Aug. 2017
Overcoming abandonment by his alcoholic father, Bourne studied at Columbia with John Dewey and imbibed his mentor’s ecstatic faith in democracy.

— franklin foer, The Atlantic, "Why Liberalism Disappoints," 8 Aug. 2017
Of course, if Cutler changes the public discussion, everyone will be ecstatic.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: How can Jay Cutler succeed with Dolphins? First, he has to want it | Commentary," 7 Aug. 2017
So both families were ecstatic when the Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for the genetic condition — known as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — two days before Christmas 2016.

— julie appleby, Kaiser Health News, "Drug Puts A $750,000 ‘Price Tag On Life’," 2 Aug. 2017
Ashbrook, for his part, is ecstatic for his role in The Return.

— chris e. hayner, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Twin Peaks' Offers a Weird (and On-Brand) Retrospective in Comic-Con Debut," 21 July 2017
McCarthy was ecstatic while remembering conversations after some of the performances.

— tom strong, Aurora Beacon-News, "Fox Valley Festival Chorus tours Italy," 19 July 2017
When, on November 9, 1989, the Wall fell and ecstatic crowds surged west, Angela, by now living in East Berlin, kept to her routine.

— kati marton, Vogue, "How Angela Merkel Became the Most Powerful Woman in the World," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ecstatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Ecstatic has been used in our language since at least 1590, and the noun "ecstasy" is even older, dating from the 1300s. Both derive from the Greek verb existanai ("to put out of place"), which was used in a Greek phrase meaning "to drive someone out of his or her mind." That seems an appropriate history for words that can describe someone who is nearly out of his or her mind with intense emotion. In early use, "ecstatic" was sometimes linked to mystic trances, out-of-body experiences, and temporary madness. Today, however, it most typically implies a state of enthusiastic excitement or intense happiness.