Enthused
/ɪnˈθjuːzd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To enthuse means to express strong happiness, excitement, or interest about a person, thing, or idea. When someone is enthused, they talk or act in a way that shows they really like or enjoy something.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
To show excitement or interest about something
- •She enthused about her trip to Italy for hours.
- •He was clearly enthused by the new project at work.
- •They enthused over the movie, praising every scene.
To express strong feelings or support for something
- •The teacher enthused the students about learning science.
- •Fans enthused about the team's victory after the game.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "enthused" like "happy," but it means a strong, active kind of happiness about something specific.
- ✓Picture a person smiling widely and talking quickly about their favorite hobby because they really like it.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you find something very exciting and want to share it with others.
- ✓Sounds like "in-THUSED" → imagine someone "infused" (filled) with energy and excitement about a topic.
- ✓Think of a child opening a birthday present and showing joy and excitement — that is being enthused.
- ✓NOT like "calm" or "neutral" — enthused means active excitement, not quiet or no feeling.
- ✓NOT like "bored" — enthused is the opposite, full of interest and positive energy.
- ✓NOT like "excited" in a sudden way — enthused often means a steady, strong interest over time.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Excited: feeling or showing strong happiness (Use when the feeling is sudden or short)
- •Delighted: very happy and pleased (Use when the happiness is about something good that happened)
- •Passionate: showing strong feelings or love for something (Use when feelings are deep and long-lasting)
- •Interested: wanting to know more about something (Use when feelings are calm and curious, not very strong)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "en-" (to cause or put into) + root "thuse" (from "enthuse," related to enthusiasm)
- •Etymology: Derived from the word "enthuse," which comes from "enthusiasm," meaning strong interest or excitement
- •Historical development: "Enthuse" started as informal English in the 1800s, meaning to express enthusiasm or excitement
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in spoken and informal written English to describe showing excitement or interest
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things make you feel enthused, and how do you show it?
•How is being enthused different from just liking something quietly or calmly?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She enthused about the concert because she ___ the music and wanted to share her feelings.
2.When the teacher enthused ___ the science experiment, the students became more interested.
3.Unlike being calm, to be enthused means to show ___ excitement or interest.
4.After watching the movie, they enthused ___ its beautiful scenes and story.
5.People often enthuse ___ new ideas when they believe those ideas can help others.
6.He didn’t just like the book; he was clearly enthused and ___ about every chapter.
7.When someone is enthused, they usually ___ their feelings by talking or acting excitedly.