exuberance

IPA/ɪɡˈzjuːbərəns/
KK[ɪɡzˈubɚəns]IPA/ɪɡˈzuːbərəns/

exuberance — noun

1. bright, overflowing energy and happiness that can be seen in someone's mood or b

1.nounC1
Definition

bright, overflowing energy and happiness that can be seen in someone's mood or behaviour

Example

Saira's exuberance filled the kitchen when she opened the college email.

exuberance after good news

The puppy's exuberance knocked over Omar's shoes by the front door.

someone's exuberance in action

Common collocations
  • youthful exuberance
  • infectious exuberance
  • burst with exuberance
Synonyms
  • enthusiasm

    focuses more on eager interest and less on overflowing joy

  • zest

    shorter and lighter in tone, often about enjoyment

Antonyms
  • restraint

    emphasizes controlled, held-back behaviour

  • gloom

    suggests low spirits instead of joyful energy

Grammar Patterns

with exuberance

someone's exuberance

Usage Note

Often refers to energy that other people can notice right away, such as cheering, laughter, or warm body language. It can describe both the feeling itself and the way that feeling shows outwardly.

2. lush, vigorous growth that makes plants spread thickly and strongly

2.nounC1
Definition

lush, vigorous growth that makes plants spread thickly and strongly

Example

After weeks of rain, the garden showed exuberance along every fence.

garden show exuberance

By July, the vines climbed the wall with wild exuberance.

with exuberance

Common collocations
  • spring exuberance
  • tropical exuberance
  • leafy exuberance
Synonyms
  • lushness

    stresses rich thickness more than energetic growth

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

garden exuberance

exuberance of the vines

Usage Note

Used mainly for visible plant growth, especially when leaves or stems seem almost too plentiful for the space around them.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words suggest positive energy, but they do not point to exactly the same thing. Exuberance is the fullest and most outward-looking of the group: it suggests joy and energy spilling over into visible behaviour. Enthusiasm often centers on eager interest in an activity, idea, or plan, even when the person stays fairly calm. Excitement is broader and can come from nerves or suspense as well as happiness. Zest is lighter and more everyday, often used for cheerful enjoyment rather than big emotional overflow. Compare 'The children ran into the sea with exuberance' with 'Mina showed great enthusiasm for the science club' and 'We felt excitement before the results were announced.'

exuberance ↗enthusiasm ↗excitement ↗zest ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Exuberance comes from exuberant, a word that goes back to a Latin root about growing beyond what is needed or overflowing. The image behind the word is of life or feeling spilling out in abundance, which explains both its emotional sense and its older plant-growth sense.

First known use

1617

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1