Definition of euphoria
: a feeling of well-being or elation
From the M-W Editors
euphoria was our Word of the Day on 01/29/2011. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
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 of euphoria from the Web
-
The fall of the Wall was greeted with euphoria among young people both East and West, even if the Westerners felt their underground idyll was being threatened by exposure to the wider world and the Easterners felt patronized.
-
Some people experience synaesthesia, extreme euphoria and even orgasm at the onset of a seizure.
-
Looking beyond the uppermost tiers of indulgence, a new Bain study shows that sales of global luxury goods leveled off last year from a period Chinese-fueled euphoria.
-
There is none of these euphoria that’s associated with market tops.
-
That euphoria was eclipsed only by the sinking disappointment of realizing none of it was real.
-
This sixth collection of his fantastic stories is a comic arsenal of dark euphoria.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'euphoria'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Health and happiness are often linked, sometimes even in etymologies. Nowadays "euphoria" generally refers to happiness, but it derives from "euphoros," a Greek word that means "healthy." Given that root, it's not surprising that in its original English uses, it was a medical term. A 1706 quotation shows how doctors used it then: "'Euphoria,' the well bearing of the Operation of a Medicine, i.e. when the Patient finds himself eas'd or reliev'd by it." Modern physicians still use the term, but they aren't likely to prescribe something that will cause it. In contemporary medicine, "euphoria" describes abnormal or inappropriate feelings such as those caused by an illegal drug or an illness.
Origin and Etymology of euphoria
New Latin, from Greek, from euphoros healthy, from eu- + pherein to bear — more at bear
First Known Use: circa 1751
Other Psychology Terms
EUPHORIA Defined for English Language Learners
euphoria
playDefinition of euphoria for English Language Learners
-
: a feeling of great happiness and excitement
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about euphoria
-
See words that rhyme with euphoria Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for euphoria Spanish Central: Translation of euphoria Nglish: Translation of euphoria for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about euphoria
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up euphoria? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!