# exuberance

/ɪɡˈzubɝəns/ (US) · /ɛɡzjˈuːbəɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exuberance
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. energy and excitement

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a feeling of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.

For teachers: the quality of being full of energy, excitement, and cheerful vitality. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

- The children's natural exuberance made the party very lively and fun.
- The youthful exuberance of the performers more than compensated for their occasional lack of technical precision during the opening night.

### 2. overflowing abundance

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a state of having a very large or overflowing amount of something, like plants or decorations.

For teachers: an overflowing or lavish abundance, often applied to lush vegetation or ornate artistic styles.

- We were amazed by the exuberance of the tropical plants in the garden.
- The baroque cathedral was famous for the sheer exuberance of its gold-leaf carvings and intricate marble statues.

### 3. financial over-optimism

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

a situation where people are too excited about the economy, causing prices to rise too high.

For teachers: a state of excessive optimism in financial markets that drives asset prices beyond their intrinsic value.

- The bank warned that irrational exuberance in the housing market could lead to a crash.
- Economists often cite 'irrational exuberance' as a primary driver of speculative bubbles that eventually destabilise the global market.

Usage: Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'irrational exuberance'.

## Examples

- The children showed their exuberance by running through the park.
- Despite the long day at work, she greeted her friends with the same exuberance as always.
- The architect's exuberance for modern design is evident in the building's bold curves and vibrant color palette, which contrast sharply with the surrounding historic district.

---

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.