enthusiasm

enthusiasm — noun

1. the excited, positive feeling you have when you are very interested in something

1.nounB2
Definition

the excited, positive feeling you have when you are very interested in something and want to get involved with it or learn more about it

Example

Rodrigo showed great enthusiasm for the school's new music program.

show + enthusiasm + for [specific activity]

Nkechi's enthusiasm for learning Turkish was contagious among her classmates.

enthusiasm + for + gerund (learning)

Common collocations
  • show enthusiasm
  • great enthusiasm
  • genuine enthusiasm
  • enthusiasm for
  • with enthusiasm
  • lack of enthusiasm
  • burst of enthusiasm
Synonyms
  • passion

    stronger and more emotional; suggests a deep, lasting attachment rather than temporary excitement

  • eagerness

    focuses on the desire to begin or participate; less intense than enthusiasm

  • zeal

    more formal and intense; often used in religious, political, or ideological contexts

  • excitement

    more general and less sustained; can be a short-term reaction to news or events

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

enthusiasm + for + noun/gerund

enthusiasm + about + noun

show/demonstrate + enthusiasm

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'an enthusiasm' when referring to the feeling itself. Commonly paired with 'for' + noun or gerund ('enthusiasm for jazz', 'enthusiasm for cooking'). 'About' is also possible but less frequent.

Common Mistakes

I have enthusiasm to learn Spanish.
I have enthusiasm for learning Spanish.
The preposition after 'enthusiasm' is 'for', not 'to'.
The students showed enthusiasm.' (vague)
The students showed genuine enthusiasm for the science fair project.
'Enthusiasm' is most natural when you specify what someone is excited about and often benefits from a modifier like 'great', 'real', or 'genuine'.

2. a particular thing — such as a hobby, sport, or area of study — that you find ve

2.nounB2
Definition

a particular thing — such as a hobby, sport, or area of study — that you find very interesting and enjoy spending time on

Example

Dewi's latest enthusiasm is learning how to make traditional Indonesian desserts.

possessive + latest enthusiasm — countable, specific interest

Gardening became Erik's greatest enthusiasm after he retired from teaching.

possessive + greatest enthusiasm

Common collocations
  • main enthusiasm
  • latest enthusiasm
  • lifelong enthusiasm
  • an enthusiasm for
  • have many enthusiasms
Synonyms
  • interest

    more general and less intense; the most neutral option

  • hobby

    more specific to leisure activities done regularly

  • passion

    much stronger; suggests the activity is a central part of someone's life

Grammar Patterns

possessive + enthusiasm/enthusiasms

an enthusiasm + for + noun

X's latest/greatest enthusiasm

Usage Note

Countable in this sense — takes 'an' in the singular ('an enthusiasm') and '-s' in the plural ('enthusiasms'). Often appears with a possessive adjective ('her latest enthusiasm', 'his many enthusiasms'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers to the thing itself, not the feeling about it.

Common Mistakes

His enthusiasm is collecting stamps.' (ambiguous)
His main enthusiasm is collecting stamps.' / 'Stamp collecting is one of his enthusiasms.
In sense 2, 'enthusiasm' is countable, so use a determiner or plural form to make the meaning clear.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe positive engagement, but they differ in intensity, duration, and context. 'Enthusiasm' (sense 1) suggests lively, energetic interest — it is warm and outward-looking, often shared with others. 'Passion' is deeper and more emotional; a person can have a quiet passion that they rarely talk about. 'Eagerness' focuses on the desire to start or join in, often with an impatient quality — a child might show eagerness before a trip. 'Zeal' is the most intense and formal, carrying a fervent, almost missionary quality; it works well in political or religious writing but can sound unnatural in casual conversation. 'Excitement' is the broadest and most short-lived — a sudden reaction to good news, not a sustained attitude. For everyday contexts, 'enthusiasm' and 'passion' are the safest choices; e.g. 'She brings enthusiasm to every team meeting' sounds natural, while 'She brings zeal to every team meeting' sounds overstated.

passion ↗eagernesszealexcitement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • lack of
  • surge of
  • wave of
  • burst of
  • show of
  • display of

Adverbs

Phrases

  • full of enthusiasm
  • with enthusiasm
  • lack of enthusiasm
  • enthusiasm for life

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Greek word 'enthousiasmos', meaning 'inspiration or possession by a god'. This was formed from 'entheos', meaning 'having a god within' ('en-' = in, 'theos' = god). In ancient Greek, the word referred to a state of divine inspiration. Latin borrowed it as 'enthusiasmus', and Old French passed it into English. Over time, the religious meaning faded, and the word came to describe any strong, energetic interest in an activity or idea. The shift from 'god-inspired' to 'very excited about something' happened gradually between the 16th and 18th centuries.