What does thrill mean?
Thrill refers to a sudden, intense feeling of excitement, delight, or pleasurable anticipation. It can describe either the emotion itself, as in “a thrill of recognition,” or an event that creates that emotion, as in “the thrill of the final performance.” As a verb, thrill means to make someone feel intensely excited or delighted, often because of something impressive, surprising, or daring: “The young violinist thrilled the audience.” The word is common in both formal and informal English, though it usually carries a strongly positive or appreciative tone. It can also refer to a sudden physical or emotional sensation, such as a thrill of fear, though excitement is its dominant modern sense. In everyday use, a thrill suggests an experience that is memorable because it is unusually stimulating or emotionally powerful.
A sudden, intense feeling of excitement or pleasure; also, an exciting or pleasurable experience.
"The prospect of travelling abroad was a tremendous thrill for her."
Usually countable and strongly positive in modern usage, though “a thrill of fear” is also possible.
To cause someone to feel excited or delighted; to experience a sudden feeling of excitement.
"The acrobats thrilled the crowd with their daring performances."
The transitive use means “to cause excitement in someone,” while the intransitive use means “to feel excitement.”
The plural is used for individual exciting experiences or sensations, as in “the thrills and spills of an adventure.”
"The film is full of thrills from beginning to end."
Thrill began with the image of piercing through something—its emotional sense developed from the idea of a sharp, sudden sensation running through you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thrill come from?
The word traces back to Old English þyrlian, meaning “to pierce through,” and is related to an Old English word for a hole or opening. Its earliest English meanings concerned piercing or penetrating, while the sense of a sudden shaking or shudder developed later. The modern sense of intense excitement became established as the verb and noun came to describe a powerful emotional or physical sensation.
Related word forms
How thrill is actually used
The noun is commonly countable and often expresses a vivid, positive emotion: “a thrill of excitement.” The verb is usually followed by an object when used transitively, as in “the performance thrilled the audience,” while the intransitive use describes the experiencer: “She thrilled at the news.”
Easily confused with thrill
A thrill is the feeling of excitement itself, while a thrill may also refer to the exciting event or experience that produces it.