WordGarden.ioenthuse
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛnθjˈuːs/
US
- /ɪnˈθuz/
Meanings
Verb
to speak with eager approval or excitement
to make someone feel eager or excited
Beyond the definition
To enthuse is to show strong, happy interest in something, often in a way that affects other people too. You can enthuse about a book, a trip, or a new idea by talking about it with real energy. You can also enthuse other people, though this use is less common, by making them feel interested and excited as well. It is more than simply saying you like something; it suggests warm, lively praise that can spread to the people listening. A teacher, a coach, or a friend might do this when they talk in a way that makes others want to join in.
"Enthuse" is a verb used for showing strong enthusiasm or for causing that feeling in someone else. Most often, it is used when someone enthuses about something, such as a film, a hobby, a plan, or an experience. In this pattern, the word suggests eager, positive talk: the person is not just saying that something is good, but speaking about it with clear pleasure and energy. It often gives the sense that their excitement is easy to notice and may even be shared by the people around them.
There are two main uses. First, a person can enthuse about something: "She enthused about the play all evening." Second, a person can enthuse someone else, meaning they make that person feel enthusiastic: "The speaker enthused the crowd." This second pattern is correct, but it is less common in everyday speech than enthuse about something. In many cases, people may choose other verbs such as "excite" or "inspire," but "enthuse" has its own shade of meaning because it points to visible, warm enthusiasm rather than just a general feeling of excitement.
The word comes from "enthusiasm" and has been in use since the 1800s. Some writers once disliked it, but it is now a normal part of English. Even so, it still has a slightly expressive feel, so it often appears in writing that wants to show personality or lively speech. If someone enthuses about their garden, their favorite team, or a place they visited, the picture is clear: they are speaking with animated pleasure, and they may be drawing other people into that feeling.
Examples
- 1
Everyday praise
He kept enthusing about the little cafe near his office.
- 2
Excited speech
"You have to watch it," Maya enthused after the movie.
- 3
Reviews
Reviewers have enthused over the film's final scene.
- Patternenthuse over + thing
praise or discuss something with excitement, especially in reviews and articles
- 4
Education
The workshop aims to enthuse teenagers about science.
- Patternenthuse someone about + topic
make someone feel excited about it
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- rhapsodize
- wax lyrical
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- enthuse about
- enthuse over
- enthuse wildly
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- enthuseverb
Forms
- enthusedpast tenseverb
- enthusesverb
- enthusing-ing formverb