alacrity

[ uh-lak-ri-tee ]

noun

1. cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness:

   We accepted the invitation with alacrity.

   Synonyms: keenness, eagerness, zeal, fervor

2. liveliness; briskness.

   Synonyms: sprightliness, agility

alacrity

/ əˈlækrɪtɪ /

noun

1. liveliness or briskness

Derived Forms

• aˈlacritous, adjective

Other Words From

• a·lacri·tous adjective
• una·lacri·tous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alacrity¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin alacritāt-, stem of alacritās “enthusiasm, zeal,” equivalent to alacer + -tās- noun suffix ( -ty ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of alacrity¹

C15: from Latin alacritās, from alacer lively

Example Sentences

Since then, rapid prototyping, flexible and evolving solutions, and the need for development alacrity have become vital for enterprises.

From MIT Technology Review

Sources worry that Schumer is expressing rhetorical support for the measure but isn’t advocating for its passage with his signature alacrity.

From TIme

What the business affairs team has done for film and television — I think we did more deals this past year than we did in the last two years alone — speaks to a lot of our alacrity in approaching what is a very fast-moving industry.

From Digiday

Down under, people endearingly call boxes of wine “goons,” and they drink them with alacrity.

From The Daily Beast

When it comes to nuns, though, the church is somehow able to act with alacrity.

From The Daily Beast

"Capital, capital," his lordship would remark with great alacrity, when there was no other way of escape.

From Project Gutenberg

Anselme, thus enjoined, lent an unwonted alacrity to his movements, waddling grotesquely like a hastening waterfowl.

From Project Gutenberg

Bernard, professing great alacrity, looked about him; but he still lingered near his companions.

From Project Gutenberg

This result comes only to those who carry out all the directions with genuine alacrity—not shirking one of them.

From Project Gutenberg

The quadroon was following them with little quick steps, having assumed a fictitious animation and alacrity for the occasion.

From Project Gutenberg