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
Mariyam Muhammad, The Enquirer, 31 Oct. 2024
While consumers will have divided attention in the coming months, retailers across all channels should ready the sleigh, because conditions call for a fast, exhilarating ride as shopping begins.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
For a few exhilarating moments, time slows as the whales and boat glide next to one another.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
Like the Alps on amphetamines, being in the presence of the Canadian Rockies is an awe-inspiring, exhilarating business.
—James Rampton, theweek, 24 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near exhilarate
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhilarate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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exhilarate
verb
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