Definitions for enthusiasm
ɛnˈθu ziˌæz əmen·thu·si·asm

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. enthusiasmnoun

   a feeling of excitement

2. exuberance, enthusiasm, ebulliencenoun

   overflowing with eager enjoyment or approval

3. enthusiasmnoun

   a lively interest

   "enthusiasm for his program is growing"

Wiktionary(3.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. enthusiasmnoun

   Possession by a god; divine inspiration or frenzy.

2. enthusiasmnoun

   Intensity of feeling; excited interest or eagerness.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Enthusiasmnoun

   inspiration as if by a divine or superhuman power; ecstasy; hence, a conceit of divine possession and revelation, or of being directly subject to some divine impulse

2. Enthusiasmnoun

   a state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of fancy; exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm

3. Enthusiasmnoun

   enkindled and kindling fervor of soul; strong excitement of feeling on behalf of a cause or a subject; ardent and imaginative zeal or interest; as, he engaged in his profession with enthusiasm

4. Enthusiasmnoun

   lively manifestation of joy or zeal

5. Etymology: [Gr. , fr. to be inspired or possessed by the god, fr. , , inspired: cf. enthousiasme. See Entheal, Theism.]

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Enthusiasm

   Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or communication." In current English vernacular the word simply means intense enjoyment, interest, or approval. Originally, an enthusiast was a person possessed by a god. Applied by the Greeks to manifestations of divine possession, by Apollo, or by Dionysus, the term enthusiasm was also used in a transferred or figurative sense. Socrates taught that the inspiration of poets is a form of enthusiasm. Its uses were confined to a belief in religious inspiration, or to intense religious fervour or emotion. Thus, a Syrian sect of the 4th century was known as the Enthusiasts. They believed that "by perpetual prayer, ascetic practices and contemplation, man could become inspired by the Holy Spirit, in spite of the ruling evil spirit, which the fall had given to him". From their belief in the efficacy of prayer, they were also known as Euchites.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Enthusiasm

   en-thū′zi-azm, n. intense interest: intensity of feeling: passionate zeal.—n. Enthū′siast, one inspired by enthusiasm: one who admires or loves intensely.—adjs. Enthusias′tic, -al, filled with enthusiasm; zealous: ardent.—adv. Enthusias′tically. [Through L., from Gr. enthusiasmos, a god-inspired zeal—enthousiazein, to be inspired by a god—en, in, theos, a god.]

The Roycroft Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. enthusiasm

   The great hill-climber.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. enthusiasm

   An energetic passion or focus.

   Her enthusiasm to unite people and promote working together for the optimum health, human rights, animal rights and shared prosperity of everyone was the truth and everyone knew and supported her honesty and truth.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 15, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Feeling
   • Interest
   • Spirit

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'enthusiasm' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3291

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'enthusiasm' in Nouns Frequency: #1379

How to pronounce enthusiasm?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say enthusiasm in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of enthusiasm in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of enthusiasm in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of enthusiasm in a Sentence

1. Superintendent Nathan Greenberg:

   We were able to offer nutritious lunches with greater variety, we have seen greater participation and enthusiasm, as well as significantly less waste.

2. Samuel Smiles:

   Enthusiasm...the sustaining power of all great action.

3. Lu Kang:

   Even though over the past year or more the United States has continued to menace Chinese products with additional tariffs, everyone can see that the enthusiasm for foreign investors in China remains high.

4. Linda Garrett:

   I completed it, and I had a ball, i want to bring that enthusiasm to the Fit Nation Triathlon.

5. RVM:

   Enthusiasm builds Faith; Enthusiasm generates Hope; Enthusiasm is a Power that will make you cope!

Popularity rank by frequency of use