gusto

American  

[guhs-toh] / ˈgʌs toʊ /

noun

plural

gustoes

1. hearty or keen enjoyment, as in eating or drinking, or in action or speech in general.

   to dance with gusto.

   Synonyms:

   fervor, spirit, zest, relish, delight, enthusiasm

2. individual taste or liking.

   The boy is an imaginative charmer, with a gusto for storytelling.

3. Archaic. artistic style or taste.

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gusto British  

/ ˈɡʌstəʊ /

noun

1. vigorous enjoyment, zest, or relish, esp in the performance of an action

   the aria was sung with great gusto

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Etymology

Origin of gusto

First recorded in 1620–30; from Italian, from Latin gustus; gust ²

Example Sentences

Children played hard and worked hard—often helping to produce and prepare the foods their families ate—and came to the table with gusto.

From The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Watkins listened to them in his car as a young cellist in England, remembering that they were performed with so much gusto he always ended up speeding while the CDs played.

From The Wall Street Journal

Only 39, he took up the role with gusto, launching into an anti-crime drive that proved popular with the electorate but not enough to keep his head off the chopping block.

From Barron's

Victory over New Zealand was the centrepiece of England's autumn, but the subsequent sacking of Scott Robertson suggested that the All Blacks were not taking up tools with their usual gusto.

From BBC

Nash blows on the flute with gusto, producing an earsplitting screech.

From Literature

Related Words

• brio
• fervor
• relish
• verve
• zeal
• zest