ebullient
Americanadjective
-
overflowing with fervor, enthusiasm, or excitement; high-spirited.
The award winner was in an ebullient mood at the dinner in her honor.
-
bubbling up like a boiling liquid.
ebullient lava streaming down the mountainside.
adjective
-
overflowing with enthusiasm or excitement; exuberant
-
boiling
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ebullient
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ēbullient- (stem of ēbulliēns “boiling up,” present participle of ēbullīre ), equivalent to ē- + bulli- (derivative of bulla “a bubble”) + -ent-; see origin at e- 1, boil 1 ( def. ), -ent
Explanation
More than chipper, more than happy, more than delighted is ebullient — meaning bubbling over with joy and delight. There are two senses of the word of ebullient. One describes an immediate, and ultimately short-lived, reaction to a particular event — for example if you've just won the lottery, you are ebullient. The other describes someone who is perpetually upbeat and cheerful, for example, as in "an ebullient personality." Watch out for ebullient personalities: they can often be "over the top" as well.
Vocabulary lists containing ebullient
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Words to Capture Your Joy
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fewer songs would have made the update more lithe and ebullient.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
These Christophers were the result of Julian trying to copy his own style, to regain the ebullient spark lost after his muse left his side.
From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026
Around 163 million people tuned in to last year's contest, which offered songs ranging from ebullient bangers to soulful ballads.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
During a streamed interview in November with Zeta CEO David Steinberg, Ives sounded ebullient about Zeta’s prospects and said the company was “almost like a step ahead” of an offering from Salesforce.
From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026
At the celebration, C.P. stood in a corner, sharing a drink with Bill Riddick, who was ebullient about the charrette.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
