exuberant

adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ ig-ˈzü-b(ə-)rənt \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

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Examples: exuberant in a Sentence

Definition of exuberant

1 a : joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic

exuberant praise

an exuberant personality

b : unrestrained or elaborate especially in style : flamboyant

exuberant architecture

2 : produced in extreme abundance : plentiful

exuberant foliage and vegetation

3 : extreme or excessive in degree, size, or extent

exuberant prosperity

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exuberantly

adverb

See exuberant defined for English-language learners

See exuberant defined for kids

Examples of exuberant in a Sentence

Steven Spielberg's career has been famously schizoid. On the one hand, he has made films borne aloft by exuberant juvenility (the Indiana Jones pictures, Jurassic Park, and so forth); on the other hand, he has made mature films of serious intent (The Color Purple, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan). And … there is also a third hand: he has combined those two types, most notably in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in which he transmuted a fascinating science fiction film into near-theology. —Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic, 23 July 2001
Here we are at a jousting tournament in medieval England, and as the armored knights charge each other on horseback the exuberant crowd sings along to the old Queen heavy-metal anthem "We Will Rock You." And does the wave! —David Ansen, Newsweek, 14 May 2001
A few years ago, I learned to expect that at the end of a linguistics class that I was teaching, as I consulted with a few students before we vacated the room, the air would suddenly be lacerated by fat bass tracks and streams of exuberant invective. Tupac, as they say, was in the house. The class that was about to begin was an elective called "The Poetry of Tupac Shakur." —John McWhorter, New Republic, 22 Oct. 2001
They're the hardwood wunderkinds who think NEXT is now: the NBA's teen set. And like puppies, they're winningly exuberant (if not housebroken). Well, maybe not so "winning." —ESPN, 25 Dec. 2000
His exuberant personality makes him fun to be around.
exuberant crowds rushed to greet the returning national champions in collegiate basketball

Recent Examples of exuberant from the Web

Image There may not be more exuberant and adventurous fans at the World Cup than those from Sweden and Mexico, whose teams will meet in a crucial match on Wednesday in this city where Europe becomes Asia.

— New York Times, "For a 90-Minute Game, a Train Ride of 27 Hours," 26 June 2018
The two and a half hour run-time is off-putting (and sadly, a more and more frequent occurrence), but overall, Fallout is a solid summer blockbuster that delivers on thrills, smiles and exuberant facial hair.

— refinery29.com, "Mission Impossible: Fallout Is As Wild & Fun As Henry Cavill's Mustache," 12 July 2018
Built in 1899 as a single-family house for Charles T. Cresswell, a prominent lawyer, 2122 Locust marks the spot where Rittenhouse Square’s fashionable set switched from the exuberant Victorian style to a more conservative, neocolonial look.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "A tale of two historic Philadelphia buildings: One rises from the ashes. The other falls to the wrecking ball.," 12 July 2018
In an exuberant display of unity, more than 1,100 delegates sprang to their feet, whistling, cheering and offering prolonged applause.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Trade War Is a Big Problem for Republicans in Politically Pivotal Iowa," 6 July 2018
Sliding on his knees across the grass, Suarez finished up his moment of self-congratulation with an exuberant shimmy, leading some online to bring out comparisons with famously charismatic performer Freddie Mercury.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Uruguayan Soccer Player's Post-Goal Dance Has All the Right Moves," 25 June 2018
Your nephew can circulate with his camera for whimsical candid shots: famished guests loading up buffet plates, exuberant dancers in the conga line, the flower girls gleefully poking their fingers in the wedding cake.

— steven p. dinkin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "A wedding gift from a teenage photographer," 17 June 2018
Even the memory of that exuberant run-up got a face full of cold water this week when the New York Times published the findings of a new study that attributed 50% of Bitcoin’s rise last year to market manipulation.

— jen wieczner, Fortune, "Dreaming of a Crypto Christmas With Ethereum Cofounder Anthony Di Iorio," 15 June 2018
Downtown Brown and the Amino Acids The exuberant metal rock of Downtown Brown meets the groovy surf-punk performance art of the Amino Acids on Friday.

— jeff milo, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit music: Downtown Brown, Amino Acids, AM People, free JR JR show," 14 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of exuberant

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin exuberant-, exuberans, present participle of exuberare to be abundant, from ex- + uber fruitful, from uber udder — more at udder

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

exuberant Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of exuberant

profuse, lavish, prodigal, luxuriant, lush, exuberant mean giving or given out in great abundance. profuse implies pouring forth without restraint.

- profuse apologies

lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion.

- a lavish party

prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources.

- prodigal spending

luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance.

- a luxuriant beard

lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance.

- a lush green lawn

exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly.

- an exuberant imagination

EXUBERANT Defined for English Language Learners

exuberant

adjective

Definition of exuberant for English Language Learners

: very lively, happy, or energetic : filled with energy and enthusiasm
: existing in large amounts : very plentiful

EXUBERANT Defined for Kids

exuberant

adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ ig-ˈzü-bə-rənt \

Definition of exuberant for Students

: filled with energy and enthusiasm

The audience applause … rose in an exuberant swell …
—Lois Lowry, The Giver

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exuberance

\-bə-rəns\ noun

Medical Dictionary

exuberant

adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ ig-ˈzü-b(ə-)rənt \

medical Definition of exuberant

: characterized by extreme proliferation

exuberant granulation tissue

remarkably exuberant metastatic calcification
—Sandy Muspratt

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exuberant

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exuberant

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