enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast 

-əst, 

en-

also -ˈthyü-

: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as

a

: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit

a sports car enthusiast

b

: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Synonyms of enthusiast

• lover
• fan
• sucker
• fanatic

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season

Recent Examples on the Web

There's no collision avoidance, which is common for less expensive beginner to enthusiast models, but the Atom does offer impressive subject-tracking functionality. —James Abbott, Space.com, 23 Feb. 2026

Charest compared Burlington to Bozeman in Montana, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, or Boulder in Colorado, calling it a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. —Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026

The call took place in the locker room just after the win, and was co-ordinated by FBI director and longtime hockey enthusiast Kash Patel (the FBI director partying with a hockey team on the taxpayer’s dime is a topic for another time). —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2026

The issue of representation has forever dogged both BL and M/M romance, frequently hinging on accusations of fetishization and questioning the mental fitness of its enthusiasts. —E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for enthusiast

• iconoclast
• osteoblast
• osteoclast
• aghast
• amassed
• biassed
• broadcast
• bypassed
• downcast
• forecast
• foremast
• harassed

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast 

-əst

: a person filled with enthusiasm