enthuse

verb

en·​thuse in-ˈthüz 

en-,

 also  -ˈthyüz

enthused; enthusing

transitive verb

1

: to make enthusiastic

is enthused about the project

2

: to express with enthusiasm

intransitive verb

: to show enthusiasm

a splendid performance, and I was enthusing over it

—Julian Huxley

Usage of Enthuse

Enthuse is apparently American in origin, although the earliest known example of its use occurs in a letter written in 1827 by a young Scotsman who spent about two years in the Pacific Northwest. It has been disapproved since about 1870. Current evidence shows it to be flourishing nonetheless on both sides of the Atlantic especially in journalistic prose.

Synonyms

• drool
• effuse
• fuss
• gush
• rave
• rhapsodize
• slobber

Examples of enthuse in a Sentence

“This dinner is wonderful!” he enthused.

His presentation failed to enthuse the committee.

Recent Examples on the Web

After three straight trade deadlines as sellers, the Ducks’ locker room was enthused by the recent arrival of Jacob Trouba via trade. —Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 17 Dec. 2024

Stephen Colbert enthused, over an en-plein-air portrait of a shirtless and beaming Luigi Mangione, who was briefly America’s most wanted man, and perhaps still is. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024

Bazinet is enthused by Take-Two Interactive’s strong product release plans and balance sheet. —Pia Singh, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024

Some New Yorkers weren’t enthused by the MAGA invasion, though. —Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from enthusiasm

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

enthuse

verb

en·​thuse in-ˈth(y)üz 

enthused; enthusing

1

: to make enthusiastic

2

: to show enthusiasm