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).
Examples of exhilarate in a Sentence
Kate Herz, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
From snorkeling to rainforest hikes to helicopter rides, this luxury resort offers a variety of exhilarating outdoor experiences.
—Rana Good, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Despite their romance coming to an end, the adventure seeker's exhilarating life — filled with twists, turns and a fair share of couch surfing — had only just begun.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 July 2025
The grime was exhilarating, and the glamorous boutiques opening between old-world vestiges — hat stores, bridal shops — gave the neighborhood a sense of urgency.
—Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exhilarate
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhilarate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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exhilarate
verb
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