enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast 

-əst, 

en-

also -ˈthyü-

: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as

a

: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit

a sports car enthusiast

b

: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Synonyms of enthusiast

• lover
• fan
• sucker
• fanatic

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season

Recent Examples on the Web

Pickleball enthusiasts expressed excitement that indoor courts would be opening but opponents worried other community events that were once held at the site would be forced out like arts and crafts show, roller derby, the Rosie the Riveter festival and Fourth of July celebrations. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2026

And Matuszewicz is leading the charge with the help of a small but dedicated group of neon enthusiasts. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 11 Jan. 2026

Hairdresser and modeling enthusiast Shayan Asadollahi was killed by government forces on January 1, according to IranWire. —Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026

With more than $2 million raised through crowdfunding, Zero Zero Robotics says AQUA has drawn strong interest from watersport enthusiasts looking for a more durable and flexible aerial filming tool. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for enthusiast

• iconoclast
• osteoblast
• osteoclast
• aghast
• amassed
• biassed
• broadcast
• bypassed
• downcast
• forecast
• foremast
• harassed

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast 

-əst

: a person filled with enthusiasm