effervescent
Americanadjective
-
effervescing; bubbling.
-
vivacious; merry; lively; sparkling.
- Synonyms:
- lighthearted, enthusiastic, ebullient, animated
adjective
-
(of a liquid) giving off bubbles of gas; bubbling
-
high-spirited; vivacious
Other Word Forms
- effervescence noun
- effervescently adverb
- noneffervescent adjective
- noneffervescently adverb
- uneffervescent adjective
- uneffervescently adverb
Etymology
Origin of effervescent
First recorded in 1675–85; from Latin effervēscent- (stem of effervēscēns ), present participle of effervēscere to effervesce; -ent
Explanation
Something effervescent has bubbles or froth, like a sparkling cider or a bubble bath. If you have a happy, light, cheerful personality — if you are "bubbly" — you too are effervescent. Coming from the Latin effervēscere, the original meaning was more boiling than bubbly, thanks to the ferv part, which means "hot." The word literally refers to bubbles giving off gas, and any drinks you enjoy that are nose-ticklingly effervescent make bubbles that pop and release into the air. Remember, someone with an effervescent personality is just bubbly, not full of gas!
Vocabulary lists containing effervescent
Words to Capture Your Joy
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Grade 10, List 2
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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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.
Perhaps the highest praise comes in acknowledging just how difficult it is to convey its effervescent perfection.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Two years later, the effervescent Tigger joined the gang for the second book, "The House at Pooh Corner."
From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026
But the effervescent co-host of the hit “Girls Gotta Eat” podcast will do more than just tell her “crazy, insane stories for an hour.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
That approach translated to effervescent joy on the ice—and a gold medal.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026
There was something about Arize’s effervescent mischief that made people forgiving.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
