excitement
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛksˈaɪtmənt/
US
- /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
Description
- joyful anticipation
- eager energy
- thrill
- lively interest
It is not just happiness. It is that bright, lively feeling you get when something good is about to happen, or when something suddenly makes life feel more alive. Think of a child on Christmas Eve, almost unable to sit still. That is the feeling here. It can come from big moments like a vacation or a concert, and also from smaller things like a surprise phone call or finishing a hard project. Sometimes it comes with a little nervousness, like before a first date or a presentation. It can also mean the growing sense of interest or buzz around an event, story, or piece of news.
Excitement is the feeling of strong pleasure, eager interest, and extra energy that rises when something good, new, or important is happening or about to happen. It is more than simple happiness because it usually has movement in it: a quickened heart, restless hands, a big smile, or the sense that you cannot wait for what comes next.
This feeling can come from many places. A person may feel it before a birthday, a trip, a game, a concert, or any long-awaited moment. It can also appear during an active, thrilling experience, such as a fast ride, a close match, or the sudden solving of a difficult problem. In daily life, it may be caused by good news, a surprise message, meeting someone special, or starting something new.
The word is also used in a wider sense for the atmosphere around people, places, or events. A city before a final match may be full of excitement. A crowd may feel excitement as the lights go down before a show. A writer can build excitement by slowly revealing details and making readers want to know what happens next. In this sense, the word does not describe only one person's emotion; it can describe shared energy and rising interest.
This feeling is not always calm or purely pleasant. It can be mixed with worry, especially when the future is uncertain. Someone might feel both excitement and fear before moving to a new city or speaking in front of many people. Even so, the word usually points to positive energy, strong interest, and the sense that something meaningful is unfolding.
Examples
- 1
Concert anticipation
There was a lot of excitement before the concert started.
- 2
Children's reaction
The children shouted with excitement when they saw the snow.
- 3
Community news
People in the town are feeling growing excitement about the new train line.
- 4
Different reactions
I'm really excited about the trip, but my sister doesn't share my excitement.
Phrase
share someone's excitement
feel as excited as they do
- 5
Job interview
She tried to hide her excitement during the job interview.
- 6
Team morale
The coach's return has brought a new sense of excitement to the team.
- 7
Moving house
In the excitement of moving house, we forgot to cancel the internet.
Pattern
in the excitement of + event
while people are busy and emotional because of it
- 8
Entertainment
The movie has enough excitement to keep you watching until the end.
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- excitementnoun
Forms
- excitementspluralnoun