exhilarated

IPA/ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪd/
KK[ɪɡzˈɪlɚˌetɪd]IPA/ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪd/

exhilarated — adjective

  • exhilaratedpositive
  • more exhilaratedcomparative
  • most exhilaratedsuperlative

1. feeling a powerful rush of happiness and energy, usually because something excit

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

feeling a powerful rush of happiness and energy, usually because something exciting or satisfying has just happened

Example

After winning the relay race, Theo felt exhilarated and hugged his teammates.

feel exhilarated after [achievement]

The crowd was exhilarated by the band's final song, cheering for several minutes.

passive: be exhilarated by [stimulus]

Common collocations
  • feel exhilarated
  • be exhilarated by
  • be exhilarated at
  • exhilarated after
  • return exhilarated
  • come back exhilarated
Synonyms
  • elated

    even stronger, suggesting triumphant happiness; 'elated' focuses more on pride and joy, while 'exhilarated' emphasises energy and a physical rush

  • thrilled

    more common in everyday speech; 'thrilled' can be used for less intense situations (e.g. 'thrilled about the gift'), whereas 'exhilarated' requires a genuinely exciting or challenging trigger

  • ecstatic

    extremely intense, almost overwhelming joy; 'ecstatic' is less tied to physical energy and more to pure happiness or relief

Antonyms
  • drained

    opposite of the energised feeling; can describe the same person after the adrenaline fades

  • deflated

    opposite of the high / lifted mood; implies disappointment after a peak moment

Grammar Patterns

be exhilarated by [stimulus]

feel exhilarated after [event]

return / come back exhilarated

Usage Note

Stronger and more physical than 'excited' or 'happy'; it implies a sudden burst of energy and joy that follows a specific high-intensity experience — such as a performance, race, adventure, or stunning view. The word is most naturally used predicatively (feel exhilarated / be exhilarated) rather than directly before a noun.

Common Mistakes

I feel exhilarated about the weekend.
I felt exhilarated after finishing the marathon.
'exhilarated' describes a strong rush after an intense experience, not general anticipation or mild excitement.
The exhilarated children played in the garden.
The children felt exhilarated after the roller-coaster ride.
'exhilarated' is rarely used attributively before a noun; it sounds more natural in predicative position.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe strong positive feelings, but they differ in intensity and trigger. 'Excited' is the broadest and weakest — it covers everything from looking forward to a film to winning a prize. 'Thrilled' is more intense and often used for personal good news ('thrilled to hear you got the job'). 'Exhilarated' adds a physical-energy component: it follows a high-intensity experience (a race, a performance, an adventure) and implies both happiness and a rush of energy. 'Elated' leans toward triumphant pride and joy after success. 'Ecstatic' is the strongest, suggesting overwhelming joy that is almost impossible to contain. For example: you might be excited about a party, thrilled by a promotion, exhilarated after a roller-coaster ride, elated when your team wins a championship, and ecstatic when you finally hold your newborn baby.

excited ↗thrilled ↗elated ↗ecstatic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • feeling exhilarated
  • sense of exhilaration

Adverbs

  • absolutely exhilarated
  • completely exhilarated
  • truly exhilarated
  • suddenly exhilarated

Phrases

  • feel exhilarated
  • be exhilarated
  • come back exhilarated
  • return exhilarated

Prepositions

  • exhilarated by
  • exhilarated at
  • exhilarated after

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin 'exhilaratus', the past participle of 'exhilarare' — meaning to gladden or cheer up. 'Ex-' (thoroughly) combined with 'hilaris' (cheerful). The same root gives us 'hilarious'. The word entered English in the 1500s and was originally used to mean 'made cheerful'.