What does exhilarant mean?
Exhilarant describes something that cheers, enlivens, or fills a person with high spirits. It can function as an adjective — as in "the exhilarant morning air" — or, more rarely, as a noun meaning something that exhilarates. The word derives from the Latin verb exhilarare, "to make cheerful," itself built on hilaris, meaning glad or merry, the same root behind "hilarity" and "exhilarate." In tone it sits alongside words such as invigorating, bracing, and uplifting, though it tends to suggest gentle gladness rather than the intense thrill implied by "exhilarating." Because it is uncommon, using it lends writing a slightly elevated, literary flavor, but readers should be aware that most modern contexts favor its better-known relative.
Cheering, gladdening, or invigorating; causing liveliness and high spirits.
"An exhilarant breeze swept across the deck as the ship left harbor."
Something that exhilarates; an agent or source of cheerfulness and animation.
"He called laughter nature's finest exhilarant."
The noun sense is rare and chiefly found in older or literary writing.
Used only for the rare noun sense referring to things that exhilarate.
"The essay praised music and sunlight as two great exhilarants of the mind."
Before "exhilarating" took over the English language, writers reached for this rarer cousin — built on the same Latin root that gives us "hilarity."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exhilarant
"Exhilarant" comes from the Latin verb exhilarare, meaning "to make cheerful or merry," formed from ex- ("thoroughly") plus hilaris ("cheerful, glad"). It entered English in the early 17th century alongside related forms such as "exhilarate." It shares its Latin root with "hilarity," "hilarious," and "exhilaration," all ultimately tracing back to the Greek-derived notion of gladness conveyed by hilaris.
Related word forms
How exhilarant is actually used
"Exhilarant" is a rare and somewhat formal or literary word; in everyday usage "exhilarating" is strongly preferred. It carries a warm, positive connotation, suggesting uplift and cheer rather than mere excitement.
Easily confused with exhilarant
"Exhilarating" is the far more common present participle used as an adjective meaning intensely exciting, while "exhilarant" is a rare, more literary adjective simply meaning cheering or gladdening.