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

• lover
• fan
• sucker
• fanatic

Examples of enthusiast in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

At the market’s Shed 5, the Detroit Sandwich Day Party brings together sandwich enthusiasts for a wide array of sandwich samplings from metro Detroit restaurants and bars. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2025

But, in the 22 years since production ended, enthusiasts and collectors have caught on to how special the open-top speed machine is. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025

Replenishing with a beverage like water with electrolytes can save even the most experienced outdoor enthusiast. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025

Thousands of enthusiasts witnessed this one-of-a-kind Defender in action – not just sitting under show lights, but out on the track. —New Atlas, 28 Aug. 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

Rhymes for enthusiast

• iconoclast
• osteoblast
• osteoclast
• aghast
• amassed
• biassed
• broadcast
• bypassed
• downcast
• forecast
• foremast
• harassed

Kids Definition

enthusiast

noun

en·​thu·​si·​ast in-ˈth(y)ü-zē-ˌast 

-əst

: a person filled with enthusiasm