First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
exuberant
adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ig-ˈzü-b(ə-)rənt\
: very lively, happy, or energetic : filled with energy and enthusiasm
: existing in large amounts : very plentiful
Full Definition of EXUBERANT
1
: extreme or excessive in degree, size, or extent <exuberant prosperity>
2
a : joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic <exuberant praise> <an exuberant personality> b : unrestrained or elaborate especially in style : flamboyant <exuberant architecture>
3
— ex·u·ber·ant·ly adverb
See exuberant defined for English-language learners
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Examples of EXUBERANT
- Steven Spielberg's career has been famously schizoid. On the one hand, he has made films borne aloft by exuberant juvenility (the Indiana Jones pictures, Jurassic Park, and so forth); on the other hand, he has made mature films of serious intent (The Color Purple, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan). And … there is also a third hand: he has combined those two types, most notably in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in which he transmuted a fascinating science fiction film into near-theology. —Stanley Kauffmann, New Republic, 23 July 2001
- Here we are at a jousting tournament in medieval England, and as the armored knights charge each other on horseback the exuberant crowd sings along to the old Queen heavy-metal anthem “We Will Rock You.” And does the wave! —David Ansen, Newsweek, 14 May 2001
- A few years ago, I learned to expect that at the end of a linguistics class that I was teaching, as I consulted with a few students before we vacated the room, the air would suddenly be lacerated by fat bass tracks and streams of exuberant invective. Tupac, as they say, was in the house. The class that was about to begin was an elective called “The Poetry of Tupac Shakur.” —John McWhorter, New Republic, 22 Oct. 2001
- They're the hardwood wunderkinds who think NEXT is now: the NBA's teen set. And like puppies, they're winningly exuberant (if not housebroken). Well, maybe not so “winning.” —ESPN, 25 Dec. 2000
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Origin of EXUBERANT
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin exuberant-, exuberans, present participle of exuberare to be abundant, from ex- + uber fruitful, from uber udder — more at udder
Related to EXUBERANT
- Synonyms
- bouncy, bubbly, buoyant, crank [chiefly dialect], effervescent, frolic, frolicsome, gamesome, gay, high-spirited, vivacious
- Antonyms
- low-spirited, sullen
Synonym Discussion of EXUBERANT
profuse, lavish, prodigal, luxuriant, lush, exuberant mean giving or given out in great abundance. profuse implies pouring forth without restraint <profuse apologies>. lavish suggests an unstinted or unmeasured profusion <a lavish party>. prodigal implies reckless or wasteful lavishness threatening to lead to early exhaustion of resources <prodigal spending>. luxuriant suggests a rich and splendid abundance <a luxuriant beard>. lush suggests rich, soft luxuriance <a lush green lawn>. exuberant implies marked vitality or vigor in what produces abundantly <an exuberant imagination>.
EXUBERANT Defined for Kids
exuberant
adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ig-ˈzü-bə-rənt\
Definition of EXUBERANT for Kids
: filled with energy and enthusiasm <The audience applause … rose in an exuberant swell … — Lois Lowry, The Giver>
— ex·u·ber·ance \-bə-rəns\ noun
Medical Dictionary
exuberant
adjective ex·u·ber·ant \ig-ˈzü-b(ə-)rənt\
Medical Definition of EXUBERANT
: characterized by extreme proliferation <exuberant granulation tissue> <remarkably exuberant metastatic calcification—Sandy Muspratt>
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