enthuse

[ en-thooz ]
/ ɛnˈθuz /

verb (used without object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.

to be or become enthusiastic; show enthusiasm: All the neighbors enthused over the new baby.

verb (used with object), en·thused, en·thus·ing.

to cause to become enthusiastic.

Origin of enthuse

1820–30, Americanism; back formation from enthusiasm

usage note for enthuse

The verb enthuse is a 19th-century back formation from the noun enthusiasm. Originally an Americanism, enthuse is now standard and well established in the speech and all but the most formal writing of educated persons, in both Britain and the United States. It is used as a transitive verb meaning “to cause to become enthusiastic” ( The liveliness of the dance enthused the audience ) and as an intransitive verb meaning “to show enthusiasm” ( She enthused warmly over his performance ). Despite its long history and frequent occurrence, however, enthuse is still strongly disapproved of by many.

OTHER WORDS FROM enthuse

qua·si-en·thused, adjective un·en·thused, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for enthuses

British Dictionary definitions for enthuses

enthuse
/ (ɪnˈθjuːz) /

verb

to feel or show or cause to feel or show enthusiasm