ENGLISH
REFERENCE

enthusiast

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɛnˈθuziˌæst// UK //ɛnθjˈuːzɪˌæst// en·thu·si·ast Archaic

n. someone who is very interested in a particular activity or subject and spends a lot of time on it. You use this to describe a person who truly loves their hobby.

n. a person who is highly interested in and devoted to a particular activity, subject, or cause. While historically used to describe religious zealots, the modern sense refers to a dedicated hobbyist or supporter.


SIMPLE

He is a classic car enthusiast.

CONTEXTUAL

The local hiking club attracts every outdoor enthusiast in the county during the summer months.

COMPLEX

Despite being a lifelong photography enthusiast, she rarely shared her work publicly, preferring to keep her extensive collection of landscape prints for her own personal enjoyment.

Synonyms
Origin

From Ancient Greek ἐνθουσιαστής (enthousiastḗs, “an enthusiast, a zealot”), from ἐνθουσιάζειν (enthousiázein, “(intransitive) be inspired or possessed by a god, be rapt, be in ecstasy, (transitive) inspire”): see enthusiasm.

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'of' or preceded by a modifying noun to specify the area of interest.

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