enthusiasm

noun en·thu·si·asm \ in-ˈthü-zē-ˌa-zəm , en- also -ˈthyü- \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: enthusiasm in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What is the history of enthusiasm?

Definition of enthusiasm

1 a : strong excitement of feeling : ardor

did her work with energy and enthusiasm

b : something inspiring zeal or fervor

his enthusiasms include sailing and fishing

2 a : belief in special revelations of the Holy Spirit

b : religious fanaticism

See enthusiasm defined for English-language learners

See enthusiasm defined for kids

Examples of enthusiasm in a Sentence

Hour by hour, minute by minute, Guerrero is a racehorse, sitting upright in a chair, revising copy, clarifying names and places, sprinkling the reports with jokes while a producer talks in her ear—then delivering with breakneck speed and unflagging enthusiasm. —Joel Drucker, Cigar Aficionado, May/June 2003
The Gower has a bewitching effect on my children. Perhaps it is because of having been cooped up in the car for four hours, but once we are negotiating the windy road along this southern Welsh peninsula, they are all gushing with enthusiasm. —Emma Haughton, Times (London), 12 Aug. 2000
Now that he was awake, he couldn't understand how he could have slept through the racket the birds were making. "Oliver," Harry croaked. "It's the crack of dawn." "Exactly," said Wood. He was a tall and burly sixth year and, at the moment, his eyes were gleaming with a crazed enthusiasm. "It's part of our new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go," said Wood heartily. —J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1999
These days, even the wiliest brand-builders are at least a little anxious about the emerging teenage market, with its stylistic balkanization, shifting folkways and unpredictably spiking enthusiasms. —Hal Espen, New York Times Magazine, 21 Mar. 1999
The party supported its candidate with enthusiasm.
He seems to lack enthusiasm for the work he's doing.
Among his latest enthusiasms are sailing and fishing.

Recent Examples of enthusiasm from the Web

So Miss Emerson needs to have excellent people skills and an enthusiasm for service.

— karla peterson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Over-the-Line's Miss Emerson Contest isn't what you think it is," 13 July 2018
Europe is not especially eager to have Britain crash out of the union next spring, either, so leaders on the continent are doing their best to drum up enthusiasm for the Chequers white paper.

— jonah shepp, Daily Intelligencer, "The Brexit Crisis Finally Engulfs the Party That Started It," 11 July 2018
Meisten had a youthful enthusiasm for living and learning, exceeded only by his love and devotion to his wife, family, and many dear friends, according to family.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Remembering the FBI agent in charge of investigation into Reagan assassination attempt," 11 July 2018
However, while there is still institutional enthusiasm for the cryptocurrency space, virtual currencies aren’t doing so well right now.

— david meyer, Fortune, "A Traditional Stock Exchange Is Also Going to Trade Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin," 6 July 2018
Many analysts say investor sentiment has been hurt by the escalating trade conflict between China and the U.S. The soft post-debut performance of many tech IPOs in Hong Kong over the past year has also damped investor enthusiasm for new listings.

— joanne chiu, WSJ, "Xiaomi Shares Slip Ahead of Official Debut," 6 July 2018
Anyone who early in life turned a sport or hobby into a career, or who took over a thriving family business, knows the challenge of maintaining enthusiasm for it, even when the money’s great.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "On leaving baseball, flipping the First, discovering an awesome tree," 6 July 2018
There isn’t a craft bar that matches Gold Star’s service, selection, and general enthusiasm for beer in the borough.

— Bon Appetit, "Gold Star Beer Counter," 2 July 2018
At the same time, Senate aides said the Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell had shown little enthusiasm for the legislation.

— casey newton, The Verge, "Congress roasted Facebook on TV, but won’t hear any bills to regulate it," 7 June 2018

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

What is the history of enthusiasm?

It may come as a surprise to many people, when they first look up the word enthusiasm, to see that its original meaning has to do with passion for religion, rather than passionate or eager interest in general. A brief explanation of the word’s etymology should clear this up. Enthusiasm entered the English language around the beginning of the 17th century. It was borrowed from the Greek enthousiasmos, meaning “inspiration or possession by a god.” For the first two hundred or so years that it was used in English, enthusiasm was primarily employed to refer to beliefs or passions that related to religion. By the beginning of the 18th century, however, the word began to be used to describe having strong feelings or interest in secular matters.

Origin and Etymology of enthusiasm

Greek enthousiasmos, from enthousiazein to be inspired, irregular from entheos inspired, from en- + theos god

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1603

in the meaning defined at sense 2a

See Words from the same year

enthusiasm Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of enthusiasm

passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

- was a slave to his passions

fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

- read the poem aloud with great fervor

ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

- the ardor of their honeymoon soon faded

enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

- never showed much enthusiasm for sports

zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

- preaches with fanatical zeal

ENTHUSIASM Defined for English Language Learners

enthusiasm

noun

Definition of enthusiasm for English Language Learners

: strong excitement about something : a strong feeling of active interest in something that you like or enjoy
: something causing a feeling of excitement and active interest : a hobby that someone feels enthusiastic about