exhilarating

adjective

ex·​hil·​a·​rat·​ing ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ How to pronounce exhilarating (audio)
: causing strong feelings of happy excitement and elation : thrilling
an exhilarating experience
… an exhilarating ride that allows participants to catch an aerial view like they've never seen before.Kathryn M. Roy
… I would like to convey the sense of flight as it was almost at the very beginning of itself, when everything about it was miraculous and dangerous and exhilarating.James Dickey
… an exhilarating career full of deals sealed at three-martini lunches.Andrea Cooper
exhilaratingly adverb
an exhilaratingly funny performance

Examples of exhilarating in a Sentence

no recording can capture the exhilarating feeling of being at a live rock concert
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The night wouldn’t be complete without an exhilarating display of fireworks! Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025 This could be exhilarating or rather drama-filled, so handle with care. Kyle Thomas, People.com, 29 June 2025 Their win over Chelsea was one of the most exhilarating games of the tournament. The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 June 2025 For the Millers, opening on Friday was both an emotional and exhilarating experience. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exhilarating

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhilarating was in 1634

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Cite this Entry

“Exhilarating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhilarating. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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