exuberant

Exuberant is an adjective used to describe lively, energetic, and enthusiastic qualities. It can refer to people who are full of high spirits, to expressions or performances that feel unrestrained or contagious, or to things that are abundant and lush in growth.

In positive contexts it connotes zest and vitality: an exuberant welcome, exuberant color, or exuberant celebrations. In botany or ecology, exuberant growth describes rapid, vigorous development. In some uses it can suggest excess or imprudence when emotions or displays are overly demonstrative.

The word comes from Latin exuberāre, meaning to overflow, from ex- “out” + uber “abundance.” It entered English in the early modern period. The noun form is exuberance, and the adverb is exuberantly.

Usage notes: exuberant is widely used across domains, including describing personality, performances, or natural phenomena. It often carries a positive tone, though it can carry a sense of overtness or exuberance that others might view as excessive. Related terms include ebullient, lush, and lavish; antonyms include restrained and subdued.