ardent and lively interest or eagerness an object of keen interest; passion extravagant or unbalanced religious fervour
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
en•thu•si•asm /ɛnˈθuziˌæzəm/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- lively, absorbing interest; eager involvement:[uncountable]We are looking forward to your visit with enthusiasm. Her enthusiasm for the plan was infectious.
- [countable] something in which lively, absorbing interest is shown;
passion: Rock climbing is one of his latest enthusiasms.
en•thu•si•asm
(en tho̅o̅′zē az′əm),USA pronunciation n.
- absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit;
lively interest:He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies. - an occupation, activity, or pursuit in which such interest is shown:Hunting is his latest enthusiasm.
- Religionany of various forms of extreme religious devotion, usually associated with intense emotionalism and a break with orthodoxy.
- Greek enthousiasmós, equivalent. to enthousí(a) possession by a god (énthous, variant of éntheos having a god within, equivalent. to en- en-2 + -thous, -theos god-possessing + -ia y3) + -asmos, variant, after vowel stems, of -ismos -ism
- Late Latin enthūsiasmus
- 1570–80
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged eagerness, warmth, fervor, zeal, ardor, passion, devotion.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged indifference.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'excessive enthusiasm' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):