What does exhilaration mean?
Exhilaration is a feeling of intense, uplifting excitement — the buoyant, energized state of mind that comes from something thrilling, joyful, or wonderfully new. It is what a skydiver feels in freefall, what a runner feels crossing the finish line first, and what fills the air at a moment of sudden triumph. The word functions as an uncountable noun and appears most often in phrases like 'a sense of exhilaration' or 'a rush of exhilaration'. Its connotations are entirely positive: unlike mere excitement, which can involve anxiety, exhilaration implies delight and vitality. Etymologically it traces back to the Latin exhilarare, 'to make cheerful', from hilaris, 'glad' — the same root behind 'hilarity'. That lineage makes it a fitting word for joy at its most vivid, and it remains a precise, expressive choice for describing happiness that feels almost physical in its intensity.
nounA feeling of intense excitement, cheerfulness, or elation; the state of being happily stimulated and energized.
- A feeling of intense, joyful excitement or elation.
"She felt a surge of exhilaration as the plane lifted off the runway."
"The skiers descended the slope with whoops of pure exhilaration."
"There was an air of exhilaration in the office when the deal finally closed."
Rarely used; exhilaration is almost always treated as uncountable, so no plural form appears in ordinary usage.
"The diaries record the exhilarations of his early climbing years."
Exhilaration comes from the same Latin root that gave us 'hilarity' — it literally means to be made cheerful.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exhilaration
Exhilaration derives from the Latin verb exhilarare, meaning 'to make cheerful or gladden', formed from ex- ('thoroughly') and hilaris ('cheerful, glad'). English borrowed the word in the early 17th century, initially in the sense of enlivening or cheering someone, before the modern sense of joyful excitement became dominant. It shares its Latin root with 'hilarity', making them true etymological cousins.
Related word forms
How exhilaration is actually used
Exhilaration is an uncountable noun used in formal and literary registers as well as everyday speech. It carries an overwhelmingly positive connotation, typically describing excitement tinged with joy rather than fear, though it often accompanies physically thrilling experiences such as speed, height, or competition.
Easily confused with exhilaration
Exhalation is the act of breathing out, while exhilaration is a feeling of joyful excitement — they share only a superficial sound similarity.