exhilarate
verb
Thomas MatthewsCharles DickensMadeleine B. Stern
Did you know?
Many people find exhilarate a difficult word to spell. It's easy to forget that silent "h" in there, and is it an "er" or "ar" after the "l"? It may be easier to remember the spelling if you know that exhilarate ultimately derives from the Latin adjective hilarus, meaning "cheerful." (This also explains why the earliest meaning of exhilarate is "to make cheerful.") Exhilarate comes from exhilaratus, the past participle of exhilarare, which is formed by combining ex- and hilarare, a verb that derives from hilarus and means "to cheer or gladden." If hilarus looks familiar, that may be because it's also the source of hilarious and hilarity (as well as hilariously and hilariousness, of course).
Synonyms
Examples of exhilarate in a Sentence
Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Embarking on the adventure of finding a second home can be exhilarating.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
With Rear Window, Hitchcock and his collaborators miraculously craft an exhilarating, satisfying mystery-thriller while confining the protagonist to a single location.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
Over the decades, he’s maintained the same steady demeanor through exhilarating highs and harrowing lows.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
Though he’s most often associated with exhilarating crime sagas like Goodfellas and The Departed (not to mention his depictions of violence), Scorsese has repeatedly proven to be adept at practically every genre, from religious epics and cerebral thrillers to black comedies and domestic dramas.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Marrying style and durability, these frames shield your eyes during your exhilarating outdoor adventures.
—Rana Good, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
The region’s diverse terrain caters to all biking disciplines, from exhilarating downhill and cross-country trails to scenic road routes, with the growing popularity of e-bikes making these adventures more accessible for riders of varying skill levels.
—Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024
Being an entrepreneur offers the exhilarating freedom to navigate your own path, empowering you to chase your passions while staying true to your values and vision.
—Womensmedia, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exhilarate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near exhilarate
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhilarate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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exhilarate
verb
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