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
Usa Today, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Like the novel’s narrator, Nick Carraway, we’re exhilarated to be going along for the ride.
—Rob Kyff, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2025
The first hour unfurls like the climb of a rollercoaster, inching you towards an exhilarating descent into madness.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 18 Apr. 2025
Before embarking on an NBA career that's already filled with exhilarating highs and torturous lows, Pritchard helped lead the Oregon Ducks to their first Final Four appearance since the inaugural NCAA men's basketball tournament.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 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 2 May. 2025.
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exhilarate
verb
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