What does agog mean?
Agog describes a state of eager, wide-eyed excitement — the feeling of being on tenterhooks in the best possible way. A person who is agog is not merely interested but visibly thrilled by anticipation, whether waiting for a performance to begin, a secret to be revealed, or a long-awaited guest to arrive. The word almost always appears after the noun it describes, as in 'the crowd was agog' or 'the pupils were agog with curiosity', and it frequently pairs with phrases like 'with excitement' or 'with anticipation'. Borrowed into English in the sixteenth century from the French phrase 'en gogue', meaning in merry spirits, agog retains a cheerful, festive undertone. It is a compact, expressive alternative to plainer words like excited or eager, lending prose a touch of liveliness and charm.
adjectiveVery eager, excited, and full of anticipation about something.
- Eagerly excited or filled with keen anticipation about something.
"The children were agog with excitement as the circus tent went up."
"The whole office was agog over the news of the surprise bonus."
"She waited, all agog, for the envelope that would reveal the results."
"Agog" is one of the few English words borrowed from a medieval French phrase for merriment — "en gogue" meant being in high spirits, and it still carries that festive buzz today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of agog
Agog entered English in the sixteenth century, borrowed from the French phrase 'en gogue', which meant being in a state of fun or merriment. The underlying French word 'gogue' referred to jesting or amusement, giving agog its original association with lively good humor. Over time the English word narrowed to mean eager excitement or keen anticipation, the sense it retains today.
How agog is actually used
Agog is used predicatively (typically 'agog with excitement' or 'all agog') rather than attributively before a noun. It carries a lively, positive connotation and appears in both literary and everyday writing, though it is somewhat old-fashioned in flavor.