enthusiastic

Enthusiastic is an adjective used to describe a person or reaction marked by intense enjoyment, interest, or approval. An enthusiastic person shows strong eagerness and energy when engaging with topics, activities, or other people. A statement or reception may be described as enthusiastic if it expresses positive support or high engagement. The adverb form is enthusiastically, and the corresponding noun is enthusiasm.

Etymology and nuance: The word comes from Latin enthusiasmus, via Greek enthaousiasmos, meaning divine inspiration or possession by a god (en- “in” + theos “god”). In its early use, it carried religious overtones; over time the sense broadened to describe ardent, genuine interest in non-religious contexts as well. Today, enthusiastic generally has a positive valence, but in some contexts it can imply excessive or insincere zeal depending on tone and context.

Usage andCollocations: Enthusiastic is commonly used to describe people, participation, reactions, or support. Common collocations include enthusiastic about, enthusiastic about a topic, enthusiastic supporter, enthusiastic participation, and enthusiastic reception. Examples: She gave an enthusiastic presentation. The crowd offered an enthusiastic reception. The team responded enthusiastically to the coach’s plan.

Related terms: Enthusiasm (noun) refers to the state of being enthusiastic, and an enthusiast (noun) is a person who is highly interested or excited about a subject. Distinctions exist with similar words such as keen, eager, ardent, or zealous, which vary in intensity and connotation.