Exhilarating
ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ
Definitions
Causing one to feel very happy, animated, or lively; thrilling.
ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ
Causing great happiness and excitement.
The view from the mountaintop was exhilarating.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're finally on top of the world after climbing a mountain or completing a fun, challenging task. That feeling of joy and excitement? That's exhilarating! It's when something makes you feel super happy and alive.
👶 For kids: When something is so exciting and fun that it makes you feel really happy and full of energy!
More Examples
She found the fast-paced work environment exhilarating.
The audience found the performance exhilarating.
How It's Used
"The rollercoaster ride was exhilarating."
"Winning the championship was an exhilarating experience."
From Latin *exhilarare* ('to cheer, make merry'), from *hilaris* ('cheerful').
Used since the late 17th century, originally referring to making merry or cheering someone up.
Memory tip
Think of "ex" as "out" and "hilarate" as "cheerful." An exhilarating experience takes you *out* of the ordinary and makes you *cheerful*.