# enthusiastic

/ɪnˌθuziˈæstɪk/ (US) · /ɛnθjˌuːzɪˈæstɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enthusiastic
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. divine possession

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

relating to a feeling of being controlled by a god or spirit.

For teachers: pertaining to or caused by religious ecstasy or divine inspiration. This sense is largely restricted to historical or theological contexts.

- The ancient text described the priest's enthusiastic state during the ceremony.
- Scholars often debate whether the poet's enthusiastic utterances were a literary device or a reflection of genuine mystical experience.

Usage: In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'ecstatic' or 'inspired' outside of academic history.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; learners should use 'enthusiastic' only to mean 'excited' in modern conversation.

## Examples

- She is very enthusiastic about her new job.
- The crowd gave an enthusiastic cheer when the band finally walked onto the stage.
- Despite the initial setbacks, the team remained enthusiastic about the project's potential to revolutionize the local energy market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.