Definition of exhilarate
exhilarated
;exhilarating
From the M-W Editors
exhilarate was our Word of the Day on 12/27/2013. Hear the podcast!
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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 of exhilarate from the Web
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The student showcase exhibits are heartwarming, the pig races adorable and the rides exhilarating.
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Rio, however clunky her book’s characters and plotting can sometimes be, captures that, the exhilarating dummy immortality of youth.
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Dune-bashing: Four-wheel drive cars take guests on exhilarating dune-bashing rides up and down vertiginous sand slopes.
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Some moments were exhilarating, some were frustrating, some were terrifying and some were just strange.
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The wide-ranging offerings continue this year with Creedence Clearwater Revisited, rock outfit Goo Goo Dolls, dancehall reggae legend Shabba Ranks and an exhilarating soca band clash between St. Kitts' own Grand Masters and Small Axe Band.
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In fact, for Clark – and Phillips, and Celotta, and many other NIST scientists – measurement is as exhilarating a science as any other.
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.
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).
Origin and Etymology of exhilarate
Latin exhilaratus, past participle of exhilarare, from ex- + hilarare to gladden, from hilarus cheerful — more at hilarious
EXHILARATE Defined for English Language Learners
exhilarate
playDefinition of exhilarate for English Language Learners
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: to cause (someone) to feel very happy and excited
EXHILARATE Defined for Kids
exhilarate
playDefinition of exhilarate for Students
exhilarated
;exhilarating
: to make cheerful or excited
Learn More about exhilarate
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See words that rhyme with exhilarate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for exhilarate Spanish Central: Translation of exhilarate Nglish: Translation of exhilarate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exhilarate for Arabic speakers
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