euphoria

noun

eu·​pho·​ria yü-ˈfȯr-ē-ə 

: a feeling of well-being or elation

Apparently, it is the change in mood—the feeling of euphoria and reduced anxiety—that prompts people to start using this dangerous drug.

—Rita L. Atkinson et al.

They had almost a week to recover from the euphoria of Tuesday's series-winning victory …

—Clifton Brown

compare dysphoria

Did you know?

Euphoria Has Greek Roots

Health and happiness are often linked, sometimes even in etymologies. Today euphoria generally refers to happiness, but it comes from euphoros, a Greek word that means “healthy.” Given that root, it’s unsurprising that in its original English uses euphoria was a medical term. A medical dictionary published in 1881 (The New Sydenham Society’s Lexicon of Medicine and the Allied Sciences), for example, defines euphoria as “well-being, or the perfect ease and comfort of healthy persons, especially when the sensation occurs in a sick person,” and the second edition of our own unabridged dictionary published in 1934 labels euphoria as a psychological term meaning “a sense of well-being and buoyancy.” The idea of buoyancy also connects to the word’s Greek roots: euphoros comes from a combination of the prefix eu-, meaning “well” or “easily,” and the verb pherein, meaning “to bear.” Modern physicians still use the term, but euphoria has since entered everyday usage as a word for happy feelings so intense one feels borne aloft—that is, as if one is floating on air.

Synonyms

• cloud nine
• ecstasy
• elatedness
• elation
• exhilaration
• heaven
• high
• intoxication
• paradise
• rapture
• rhapsody
• seventh heaven
• swoon
• transport

Examples of euphoria in a Sentence

The initial euphoria following their victory in the election has now subsided.

The drug produces intense feelings of euphoria.

Recent Examples on the Web

One reason is that solving one of the bigger puzzles in Blue Prince creates a sense of euphoria that is hard to replicate in other games. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025

Canada cut through the euphoria just long enough to put the evening into words. —Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025

After all, these substances increase feelings of euphoria and, in turn, help mitigate stress and naturally relieve pain. —Ana Morales, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2025

Poppy McIlroy sank a lengthy birdie putt, sending the crowd into euphoria with the heartfelt moment. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, from euphoros healthy, from eu- + pherein to bear — more at bear

First Known Use

1665, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing euphoria

• gender euphoria

Rhymes for euphoria

• chorea
• correa
• doria
• gloria
• scoria
• shorea
• thoria
• aporia
• centaurea
• dysphoria
• septoria
• signoria

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Kids Definition

euphoria

noun

eu·​pho·​ria yu̇-ˈfōr-ē-ə 

-ˈfȯr-

: a strong feeling of happiness

euphoric

-ˈfȯr-ik 

-ˈfär-

adjective

Medical Definition

euphoria

noun

eu·​pho·​ria yu̇-ˈfōr-ē-ə, -ˈfȯr- 

1

: a state of feeling intense happiness, excitement, or sense of well-being

Although our understanding of the euphoria or "high" produced by cocaine in humans is limited, animal studies indicate that mesolimbic dopamine neurotransmission and the limbic system play major roles in cocaine-induced reinforcement.

—George Bartzokis et al., Neuropsychopharmacology

compare dysphoria sense 1

2

: gender euphoria

In general, participants described their euphoria as increasing over time, as they were able to transition, access gender-affirming medical care, and express their gender in the ways that they wanted.

—Kai Jacobsen and Aaron Devor, Bulletin of Applied Transgender Studies