Dictionary

enthuse en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɛnˈθɪu̯z/ (Canada, Wales)
• /ɛnˈθjuːz/ (Canada, UK)
• /ɪnˈθuz/ (Canada, US)
• /ɛnˈθuz/ (Canada, US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪnˈθjuːz/ (Canada, UK)

Etymology

First attested from 1827. Back-formation from enthusiasm, from Ancient Greek ἔνθεος (éntheos, “possessed by a god”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + θεός (theós, “god”)

Meanings

1. (colloquial, intransitive) To show enthusiasm.
   • a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it 1970, Julian Huxley, Memories:
   • “And, Fay, you never feel confined to Swannekke Island, at all?” “Swannekke? It’s paradise!” enthuses the publicist. “Buenas Yerbas only an hour away, L.A. down the coast, my family up in San Francisco, it’s ideal. Subsidized stores and utilities, free clinic, clean air, zero crime, sea views. [...]” 2004, David Mitchell, “Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery”, in Cloud Atlas, →ISBN, page 130:
2. (humorous, proscribed, sometimes) To cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm or to be enthusiastic.
   • One of the museum's greatest strengths is its focus on educating and enthusing children from an early age, and it's something that Mullins is especially proud of. 2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 54:
   • The novelty of the film enthused the audience.

Forms

Deriveds

enthuser · reenthuse · enthused

Relateds

enthusiasm · unenthusiastic · enthusiastic · enthusiast · unenthused

Translations (29)

fr enthousiasmer (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · mi kohara (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · bg ентусиазирам (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · io entuziasmigar (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · gl entusiasmar (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · hy ոգեւորել (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · hu lelkesedik (to feel enthusiasm) · cs nadchnout (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · fi olla innoissaan (to feel enthusiasm) · bg ентусиазирам се (to feel enthusiasm) · ru вызывать энтузиазм (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · ga spreag (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · sv entusiasmera (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · uk захоплюватися (to feel enthusiasm) · hu lelkesít (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · eo entuziasmigi (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · de begeistern (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · mi kohara (to feel enthusiasm) · it entusiasmare (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · ru проявля́ть энтузиа́зм (to feel enthusiasm) · fi innostaa (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · uk захопитися (to feel enthusiasm) · pt entusiasmar (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · es entusiasmar (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · mi whakamāhanahana (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · nl enthousiasmeren (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · es entusiasmarse (to feel enthusiasm) · ca entusiasmar (to cause (someone) to feel enthusiasm) · de begeistern (to feel enthusiasm)