English Reference
adjective

excited

adj.
US /ɪkˈsaɪtəd/ UK /ɛksˈaɪtɪd/ ex·cit·ed

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    feeling very happy and eager because something good is happening or will happen.

    characterised by a state of high enthusiasm, eagerness, or emotional arousal.

    Simple

    The children were so excited about the party that they couldn't sleep.

    In context

    The fans grew increasingly excited as the countdown began, eventually erupting into cheers when the band finally appeared on stage.

    Pitfall
    I am very exciting about the trip. I am very excited about the trip.

    Use 'excited' to describe how you feel; use 'exciting' to describe the thing that makes you feel that way.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    having more energy than usual, especially when talking about atoms or particles in science.

    describing a particle, atom, or molecule that has been raised to a higher energy level than its ground state.

    Simple

    When the atom absorbs light, it moves into an excited state.

    In context

    The laser works by stimulating excited electrons to release their excess energy as a coherent beam of light.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    feeling sexual desire.

    experiencing sexual arousal or physical stimulation.

    Simple

    He felt excited as they got closer to each other.

    In context

    The novel describes the protagonist becoming physically excited during their first intimate encounter.

Don't confuse

excited vs exciting — Excited is the internal feeling a person has, while exciting is the external quality that causes that feeling.

Usage excited to see


From excite + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Common
Updated