thrilling

thrilling — adjective

1. Something that is thrilling makes you feel very excited and full of positive ene

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Something that is thrilling makes you feel very excited and full of positive energy, especially when it involves speed, danger, a surprising turn of events, or a powerful emotional moment.

Example

Nora found the roller coaster ride absolutely thrilling and asked to go again.

find + object + thrilling

The final match was so thrilling that the fans cheered for hours.

so + thrilling + that-clause

Common collocations
  • thrilling experience
  • thrilling ride
  • thrilling match
  • thrilling adventure
  • thrilling moment
  • thrilling finish
  • thrilling story
Synonyms
  • exciting

    more general and slightly less intense; covers a wider range of positive emotions

  • exhilarating

    emphasises a physical rush of energy and speed; slightly more formal

  • electrifying

    suggests a sudden, powerful jolt of excitement; more dramatic and less common

  • gripping

    used specifically for stories, films, or performances that hold your full attention

Antonyms
  • boring

    the most direct opposite — lacking any excitement

  • dull

    suggests something is slow and uninteresting, opposite of fast-paced thrills

Grammar Patterns

thrilling + noun

be + so + thrilling + that-clause

find + object + thrilling

the most + thrilling + noun

Usage Note

Commonly modifies nouns for events, performances, or experiences — especially those involving speed, risk, or surprise. Less often applied to ordinary daily activities. Do not confuse with 'thrilled', which describes a person's emotional state rather than the thing that causes it.

Common Mistakes

I am very thrilling about the concert.
I am very thrilled about the concert.
'thrilling' describes the thing that causes excitement; 'thrilled' describes how a person feels.
It was a thrill ride.
It was a thrilling ride.
'thrill' as a noun should not replace the adjective form.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that stirs strong positive emotion, but they differ in intensity and scope. 'Exciting' is the broadest and most neutral term — it can apply to anything from a job offer to a sports match. 'Thrilling' is stronger, suggesting speed, risk, or a sudden emotional peak: a roller coaster or a last-minute goal is thrilling, not just exciting. 'Exhilarating' emphasises a physical sensation of energy and freedom — think of wind in your face while skiing or skydiving. 'Electrifying' is the most dramatic, describing a sudden shock of excitement that runs through a crowd or a performance. 'Gripping' is narrower, used almost exclusively for narratives — a novel, film, or speech that holds your full attention. A football final can be both thrilling and gripping; a quiet love story is more likely to be gripping than thrilling.

exciting ↗exhilaratingelectrifyinggripping

Common collocations

Nouns

  • thrilling experience
  • thrilling adventure
  • thrilling moment
  • thrilling finish
  • thrilling ride
  • thrilling story
  • thrilling victory

Adverbs

  • absolutely thrilling
  • truly thrilling
  • genuinely thrilling
  • quite thrilling

Phrases

  • a thrilling experience
  • the most thrilling part

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'thrilling' comes from the verb 'thrill', which traces back to Old English 'þyrlian', meaning 'to pierce' or 'to bore through'. In Middle English, 'thrillen' retained this physical sense of a sharp object passing through something. By the late 1500s, the meaning had shifted from physical piercing to a sudden emotional sensation — as if a feeling of excitement were piercing through you. The adjective 'thrilling' developed in the 1600s to describe experiences that cause this piercing sensation of excitement.