gusto

noun

gus·​to ˈgə-(ˌ)stō 

plural gustoes

1

a

: an individual or special taste

different gustoes

b

: enthusiastic and vigorous enjoyment or appreciation

described the adventure with great gusto

c

: vitality marked by an abundance of vigor and enthusiasm

could not match the gusto of their competitors

2

archaic : artistic style

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• verve
• vigor
• vim
• vinegar
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of gusto in a Sentence

I don't have the gusto to go on a strenuous hike right now.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some fans may stick with him, while others might lose some of their gusto as the election cycle fades in the rearview mirror. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025

Last week, with all the gusto of a Hollywood reboot, Wallace and MBM Motorsports announced their intent to take on this year’s Daytona 500, the season opener for the NASCAR Cup Series, set for February 16. —Greg Engle, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Their meal came — including the milk — and Milk Man went to town: taking big swigs between chomps of steak with such gusto that my blood ran cold. —Allison P. Davis, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024

This time around, Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara reprise their roles with undiminished comic zest and supernatural gusto. —Steven Gaydos, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin gustus, past participle

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gusto

noun

gus·​to ˈgəs-tō 

: keen enjoyment or appreciation

eat with gusto