What does psyched mean?
“Psyched” is an informal word for feeling extremely excited, enthusiastic, or eager about something that is about to happen. It is commonly followed by “about,” as in “psyched about the concert,” or “to,” as in “psyched to meet the band.” The expression often suggests a degree of enthusiasm that is more intense than ordinary excitement, making it especially useful for informal writing and conversation. In another established use, “psyched” means psychologically prepared or mentally primed for a particular situation. It can also function as the past tense of the informal verb “psych.” The word is common in British and American English, though it is particularly associated with informal American usage.
Feeling very excited or enthusiastic about something.
"I’m psyched about seeing my old friends next weekend."
Informal; often used before an infinitive with “to” or after “about.”
Psychologically prepared or mentally primed for a situation.
"The athletes were psyched and ready to begin the competition."
Informal and less common than the sense of feeling excited.
The past tense and past participle of “psych,” meaning to prepare oneself mentally or psychologically.
"She psyched herself for the difficult interview."
Informal; this form is less common in modern English than the adjective meaning “excited.”
Say you’re “psyched” and you’re announcing more than excitement: you’re practically ready to jump out of your shoes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psyched come from?
“Psyched” comes from the informal verb “psych,” which developed from the Greek word psychē, meaning “breath,” “soul,” or “mind.” The same Greek root also appears in English words such as “psychology,” “psychiatry,” and “psychedelic.” In modern informal usage, “psyched” became especially common in the sense of being emotionally excited or psychologically prepared for an event.
How psyched is actually used
Predominantly informal and especially common in American English. It can sound enthusiastic and positive, but in the sense of being psychologically prepared it can also imply that someone has deliberately worked themselves into a particular state of mind.
Easily confused with psyched
As an adjective, “psyched” means excited or enthusiastic, whereas “psych” is a verb meaning to prepare oneself mentally or psychologically for something.