enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast How to pronounce enthusiast (audio)
-əst,
en-,
 also  -ˈthyü-
: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as
a
: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit
a sports car enthusiast
b
: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season
Recent Examples on the Web The eclipse-chasing elite While some veteran eclipse-chasers are solar researchers, others are tour operators, photographers or simply die-hard enthusiasts who chase with their own resources, said Kate Russo, who has written several books on the psychology of eclipse-chasers. Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Marvel fans and board game enthusiasts will love this expansion of Ravensburger's Villainous universe, made for 2 to 12 players. Deanna McCormack, Parents, 19 Mar. 2024 Terra cotta pots are especially popular with orchid enthusiasts. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2024 This precision matters for tea lovers and coffee enthusiasts who wish to bring the best out of their brew. Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Mar. 2024 The crypto enthusiast outlet BitOK revealed a campaign almost exactly the same as today’s scams around the time as the November 2023 Starship event. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 Rojas also is the master of ceremonies for the annual International UFO Congress, based in Phoenix, which convenes researchers, enthusiasts and experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in ufology. The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Across the world, in southern Tasmania, cold water enthusiasts can book their own private island. Katie Lockhart, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024 Outdoor enthusiasts should also use caution with any off-road vehicles or equipment that can create a spark and start a fire. Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enthusiast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enthusiast was in 1748

Dictionary Entries Near enthusiast

Cite this Entry

“Enthusiast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enthusiast. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun
en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast How to pronounce enthusiast (audio)
-əst
: a person filled with enthusiasm

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