What does thrillingly mean?
“Thrillingly” is an adverb meaning “in a thrilling manner,” or with such excitement, suspense, or emotional intensity that the experience strongly affects the audience or reader. It is commonly used in descriptions of films, books, performances, sports, and dramatic events: a story may be “thrillingly tense,” a performance may be “thrillingly moving,” or a sequence of events may unfold “thrillingly.” The word carries an emphatic and generally positive emotional charge, differing from a simple statement that something is exciting by suggesting a vivid or intense effect. It is especially associated with narrative and dramatic contexts, where suspense and audience engagement are central. Although “thrillingly” can describe a negative experience when something is frightening or dangerous, its usual connotation is appreciative, presenting the experience as gripping and memorable rather than merely pleasant.
adverbIn a way that causes intense excitement, suspense, or emotional stimulation.
- In a manner that causes intense excitement, suspense, or emotional stimulation.
"The final act unfolds thrillingly, keeping the audience breathless."
"The concert was thrillingly energetic, holding the crowd's attention throughout."
"The detective story unfolds thrillingly, with danger arriving at every turn."
Thrillingly turns the adjective “thrilling” into an adverb, letting a sentence say that something is not merely exciting, but intensely gripping.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thrillingly come from?
Thrillingly is an English adverb formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective “thrilling.” The underlying word “thrill” has Old English roots and originally referred to piercing or making a hole; it later developed the modern sense of a sudden wave of excitement or suspense. “Thrilling,” “thrilled,” and “thrill” belong to the same English derivational family, reflecting the word's development from an earlier physical meaning to its modern emotional and aesthetic uses.
Related word forms
How thrillingly is actually used
The word is commonly used in literary, cinematic, and informal descriptive contexts. It conveys a strong positive sense of excitement, suspense, or emotional impact and is often used to modify qualities such as “good,” “tense,” “entertaining,” or “moving.” There are no major regional differences between standard British and American usage.
Easily confused with thrillingly
“Thrilling” is normally an adjective describing something that causes excitement, whereas “thrillingly” is an adverb describing the manner in which something happens.