enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast 

-əst,

en-,

 also  -ˈthyü-

: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as

a

: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit

a sports car enthusiast

b

: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest

Synonyms

• addict
• aficionado
• afficionado
• buff
• bug
• devotee
• fan
• fanatic
• fancier
• fiend
• fool
• freak
• habitué
• habitue
• head
• hound
• junkie
• junky
• lover
• maniac
• maven
• mavin
• nut
• sucker

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season

Recent Examples on the Web

Once a resting spot for weary travelers journeying along the Old Buncombe Road—which linked North Carolina to Georgia—Travelers Rest now lives up to its name as a peaceful haven for nature lovers, food enthusiasts, and adventure seekers. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2025

And thanks to its proximity to the more than 800,000 acres of Big Bend National Park, Terlingua is a popular basecamp for outdoor enthusiasts, who flock to the area to raft the Rio Grande, hike challenging desert terrain, and experience some of the darkest skies in the country. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025

Golf enthusiasts, gear up as PGA Tour's rival, LIV Golf, has finally posted a successful round of television viewership. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

Fine Dining with a Creative Edge For a more elevated experience, Allendale Social has quickly become a must-visit for food enthusiasts. —Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast 

-əst

: a person filled with enthusiasm