thriller

UK: /ˈθrɪlə^r/ US: (thril′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

thrill•er  (thril′ər), n. 

1. a person or thing that thrills.
2. an exciting, suspenseful play or story, esp. a mystery story.

• 1885–90; 1920–25 for def. 2; thrill + -er¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

thriller / ˈθrɪlə/ noun

1. a book, film, play, etc, depicting crime, mystery, or espionage in an atmosphere of excitement and suspense
2. a person or thing that thrills

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

thrill /θrɪl/   v. 

1. to (cause to) feel a sudden wave of emotion or excitement: [~ + object]
   The good news thrilled him.
   [~ + at/to + object]
   to thrill at the thought of Paris.

n. [countable]

2. a sudden wave of strong emotion:
   He felt a thrill go through him when she entered the room.
3. something that produces such a sensation:
   It's certainly a thrill to meet the president.

thrill•er, n. [countable]

: a horror thriller.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

thrill (thril),  v.t. 

1. to affect with a sudden wave of keen emotion or excitement, as to produce a tremor or tingling sensation through the body.
2. to utter or send forth tremulously, as a melody.

v.i. 

3. to affect one with a wave of emotion or excitement.
4. to be stirred by a tremor or tingling sensation of emotion or excitement:
   He thrilled at the thought of home.
5. to cause a prickling or tingling sensation;
   throb.
6. to move tremulously;
   vibrate;
   quiver.

n. 

7. a sudden wave of keen emotion or excitement, sometimes manifested as a tremor or tingling sensation passing through the body.
8. something that produces or is capable of producing such a sensation:
   a story full of thrills.
9. a thrilling experience:
   It was a thrill to see Paris again.
10. a vibration or quivering.
11. Pathology an abnormal tremor or vibration, as in the respiratory or vascular system.

• Middle English thrillen origin, originally, to penetrate, metathetic variant of thirlen to thirl 1250–1300