exhilarate

verb

ex·hil·a·rate | \ ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrāt

exhilarated; exhilarating

Definition of exhilarate

: to make (someone) very happy and excited or elated was exhilarated by her success It's a demanding dining experience that may exhaust and exasperate some customers, but exhilarate those who desire a challenge more than comfort.— Thomas Matthews Uncle George tells stories … and exhilarates everybody with his good humour and hospitality.— Charles Dickens When antislavery senator Charles Sumner was honored in a demonstration that exhilarated antebellum Boston, Louisa was there …— Madeleine B. Stern

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Did You Know?

Many people find "exhilarate" a difficult word to spell. It's easy to forget that silent "h" in there, and is it an "er" or "ar" after the "l"? It may be easier to remember the spelling if you know that "exhilarate" is ultimately derived from the Latin adjective hilarus, meaning "cheerful." (This also explains why the earliest meaning of "exhilarate" is "to make cheerful.") "Exhilarate" comes from "exhilaratus," the past participle of "exhilarare," which is formed by combining ex- and hilarare, a verb that derives from "hilarus" and means "to cheer or gladden." If "hilarus" looks familiar, that may be because it's also the source of "hilarious" and "hilarity" (as well as "hilariously" and "hilariousness," of course).

Examples of exhilarate in a Sentence

the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike

Recent Examples on the Web

By all accounts, the capacity house of 3,000 was exhilarated by the musicians’ artistry. — John Edward Hasse, WSJ, "The Concert That Changed Music History," 24 Dec. 2018 That eye, the subject of Philippe Costamagna’s often exhilarating and informative, sometimes self-indulgent new book, could tell at a glance the real McCoy from a fake. — Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, "‘The Eye’ Review: Arbiters of the Authentic," 9 Aug. 2018 Getting into a bidding war over a John Galliano newspaper print Dior top on eBay is also exhilarating. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "Has Instagram Officially Replaced Etsy as The Best Place to Find Rare Vintage Fashion?," 26 July 2018 Juggling a production company, a TV show, a beauty business, a high-profile romance, and motherhood may seem daunting to most, but Lopez finds her busy life exhilarating. — Harper's BAZAAR, "Jennifer Lopez Is (Still) on Top of the World," 9 Jan. 2019 The 30-second teaser continues with the theme of text messages and live fan reaction clips to exhilarating finishes and clutch shots, which have sent basketball fanatics across the globe into a collective frenzy. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, "J. Cole's 'ATM' Appears in Latest NBA Playoffs Commercial: Exclusive," 20 Apr. 2018 Even the briefest summaries — from the exhilarating entrance to the blockbuster trades to the embarrassing suspension — depict an eventful time at Petco Park, albeit one filled with losing records. — Dennis Lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres extend A.J. Preller through 2022," 3 Dec. 2017 And while looking ahead to next season is certainly exciting, the prospect of Black Friday markdowns is just as (if not more!) exhilarating. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, "The Best Online Black Friday Fashion Deals to Shop From Home," 22 Nov. 2018 Getting to fly my first in Greenland in actual instrument conditions was a little nerve-racking, but exhilarating at the same time! — Georgia Dean, Condé Nast Traveler, "Co-Piloting a 54-Day Flight With My Dad: Dispatch #1," 5 Sep. 2018

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