exhilarate

verb

ex·​hil·​a·​rate ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrāt 

exhilarated; exhilarating

transitive verb

: to make (someone) very happy and excited or elated

was exhilarated by her success

It's a demanding dining experience that may exhaust and exasperate some customers, but exhilarate those who desire a challenge more than comfort.

—Thomas Matthews

Uncle George tells stories … and exhilarates everybody with his good humour and hospitality.

—Charles Dickens

When antislavery senator Charles Sumner was honored in a demonstration that exhilarated antebellum Boston, Louisa was there …

—Madeleine B. Stern

exhilarative

ig-ˈzi-lə-ˌrā-tiv 

adjective

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

• charge
• electrify
• excite
• galvanize
• intoxicate
• pump up
• thrill
• titillate
• turn on

Examples of exhilarate in a Sentence

the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers

the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike

Recent Examples on the Web

Kendrick Lamar starts his exhilarating new album by complaining that someone vandalized a mural depicting his face — a mural depicting his face in triplicate, in fact — on the side of a Honduran restaurant in his Compton hometown. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024

The team up is, literally, an exhilarating one as Red Bull and the iconic American automobile manufacturer work to build the next-gen hybrid power unit, known formerly as Red Bull Ford Powertrains. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 24 Nov. 2024

The exhilarating vibe is tangible, as many culinary entrepreneurs have set up shop here. —Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Unfortunately, the blockbuster show the Dodgers are trying to put together needs several more acts, a twist and maybe even an Oscar-worthy ending more than an exhilarating beginning. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin exhilaratus, past participle of exhilarare, from ex- + hilarare to gladden, from hilarus cheerful — more at hilarious

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

exhilarate

verb

ex·​hil·​a·​rate ig-ˈzil-ə-ˌrāt 

exhilarated; exhilarating

: to cause to feel cheerful or lively : put into high spirits

the fresh air exhilarated us

exhilarative

-ˌrāt-iv 

adjective