adjective

ebullient

i-BULL-yuhnt

Ebullient (adjective) means Cheerful, lively and openly full of energy and enthusiasm. Example: “He arrived in ebullient mood, hugging everyone in the room.”

adjective

Cheerful, lively and openly full of energy and enthusiasm.

"He arrived in ebullient mood, hugging everyone in the room."

"The ebullient crowd sang all the way to the station."

Of markets, sentiment or activity: strong and rising in a confident, excitable way.

"Shares climbed again in an ebullient session."

How to use ebullient

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBubbling over with cheerfulness and energy.

When to use it

Formal or literary; common in profile writing and journalism.

Memory tip

Ebullient describes an outward, visible mood — if someone is quietly content, 'contented' or 'serene' fits better.

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Easily confused with

ebullition → exuberant →

Common pairings

ebullient mood ebullient personality ebullient crowd irrepressibly ebullient

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He arrived in _____ mood, hugging everyone in the room.

Etymology

From Latin ebullire 'to boil up', from e- 'out' and bullire 'to boil' — the same root as 'boil'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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exuberant buoyant effervescent irrepressible high-spirited boisterous booming

Antonyms

subdued despondent gloomy listless depressed flat

Related words

even level happy dark active glad negative sad

Rhymes for ebullient

client orient ancient patient salient ambient lenient quotient obedient nutrient gradient sentient

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ebullient and exuberant?

Both mean overflowing with high spirits, and they are often interchangeable. Ebullient leans towards a bubbling, irrepressible mood that keeps breaking out, while exuberant leans towards abundant energy or growth — you can have exuberant foliage but not ebullient foliage.

How do you pronounce ebullient?

Say i-BULL-yuhnt, with the stress on the second syllable and 'bull' as in the animal. The variant i-BYOO-lee-uhnt is also heard, especially in American English.

Is ebullient a compliment?

Generally yes — it describes someone warm, energetic and good company. It can tip into mild criticism if the context suggests the person is too loud or too much for the occasion.

What is the meaning of ebullient?

"ebullient" (adjective) means cheerful, lively and openly full of energy and enthusiasm.

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