excited
/ɪkˈsaɪ.tɪd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Feeling very happy, eager, or full of energy because something good is happening or will happen soon. It can also mean made active or tense, often in scientific or formal contexts.
- She was excited about her new job.
- The children are excited for the trip.
- The excited atoms released energy.
Adinary Nuance
Use excited when someone feels strong positive anticipation. It is stronger and more energetic than pleased, happy, or glad. It is different from nervous: excited is usually about something good, while nervous is about worry.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- phấn khích
- Spanish
- emocionado
- Chinese
- 兴奋的
- Japanese
- わくわくした
- Korean
- 신이 난
Etymology
Excited comes from Latin excitare, meaning 'to rouse' or 'to wake up'. It entered English in the 16th century and later became common for strong happy feelings.
Common phrases
excited aboutexcited forget excitedvery excited
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is excited the same as happy?
- Not exactly. Excited means happy and strongly eager about something coming soon.
- What is the difference between excited and nervous?
- Excited is about positive anticipation. Nervous is about worry or fear.
- Can I say excited in formal writing?
- Yes, but it is most common in everyday speech and friendly writing.
- How do I use excited correctly?
- Use excited about something, excited for someone, or excited to do something.