enthusiastic

enthusiastic — adjective

1. Someone who is enthusiastic shows strong, lively interest in a person, activity,

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Someone who is enthusiastic shows strong, lively interest in a person, activity, or idea, eagerly wanting to take part or learn more.

Example

Leila was so enthusiastic about the school trip that she packed her bag three days early.

enthusiastic + about + noun phrase

The children gave an enthusiastic cheer when the teacher announced a day at the beach.

attributive: enthusiastic + noun

Common collocations
  • enthusiastic about
  • enthusiastic support
  • enthusiastic response
  • enthusiastic welcome
  • enthusiastic applause
  • enthusiastic crowd
  • enthusiastic fan
  • enthusiastic follower
  • enthusiastic reception
  • less than enthusiastic
Synonyms
  • eager

    Focuses on impatience or readiness to begin; 'enthusiastic' emphasizes active enjoyment and interest that lasts.

  • keen

    Common in British English; can be slightly less intense, suggesting strong preference rather than lively excitement.

  • passionate

    Stronger emotional intensity than 'enthusiastic'; implies deep personal commitment, not just active interest.

  • excited

    More temporary and event-driven; 'enthusiastic' can describe a stable, ongoing attitude.

Antonyms
  • apathetic

    Shows a complete lack of interest or concern — opposite of the lively engagement 'enthusiastic' describes.

  • indifferent

    Not caring one way or the other; milder than apathetic but still opposite to enthusiastic engagement.

Grammar Patterns

enthusiastic + about + noun/gerund

enthusiastic + noun

Usage Note

Frequently followed by 'about' + noun or gerund to indicate what sparks the enthusiasm (e.g., enthusiastic about the plan, enthusiastic about joining). Can also appear before a noun attributively (an enthusiastic supporter) or after a linking verb (the audience was enthusiastic).

Common Mistakes

I am enthusiastic for the new project.
I am enthusiastic about the new project.
'enthusiastic' takes 'about', not 'for', to indicate the subject of your interest.
She was very enthusiast about music.
She was very enthusiastic about music.
'enthusiastic' is the adjective form; 'enthusiast' is a noun for the person.
He is enthusiastic to join the team.
He is enthusiastic about joining the team.
Use 'about + gerund', not a to-infinitive.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a positive, involved attitude, but they differ in intensity and duration. 'Eager' suggests a strong readiness to begin or receive something, often with a sense of impatience ('the children were eager to open their presents'). 'Keen' is the most common British alternative; it expresses strong liking or willingness but is less forceful than 'enthusiastic' ('she is a keen gardener'). 'Passionate' carries deeper emotional weight, implying personal commitment and strong feeling rather than general liveliness ('a passionate advocate for human rights'). 'Excited' is usually tied to a specific upcoming event and tends to be temporary ('the crowd was excited before the concert began'), whereas 'enthusiastic' can describe a stable, long-term attitude. Use 'enthusiastic' when you want to convey active, visible interest that lasts beyond a single event.

eager ↗keen ↗passionate ↗excited ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • full of enthusiasm
  • with enthusiasm
  • enthusiastic about the idea

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from Greek 'enthousiasmos', meaning 'inspiration' or 'being possessed by a god' — from 'entheos' ('en-' meaning 'in' + 'theos' meaning 'god'). The word passed through Latin 'enthusiasmus' and French 'enthousiasme' before entering English in the 1500s. Originally it referred to religious or poetic inspiration from a divine source. The modern meaning of 'eager, lively interest' developed in the 1700s, shifting from divine possession to human excitement.