adj
zealous
ZEH-luhs
Zealous (adj) means Filled with energetic enthusiasm or eagerness, especially for a cause or duty. Example: “The zealous volunteers arrived before dawn to set up the shelter.”
adj
1
Filled with energetic enthusiasm or eagerness, especially for a cause or duty.
"The zealous volunteers arrived before dawn to set up the shelter."
"Critics called the new policy a zealous overreach."
How to use zealous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery enthusiastic and committed — sometimes admiringly, sometimes as a criticism of going too far.
Common pairings
zealous advocate
zealous enforcement
zealous supporter
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more zealous, zealouser
- Superlative
- most zealous, zealousest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ volunteers arrived before dawn to set up the shelter.
Etymology
From Latin zēlōsus, from zēlus ("zeal"); a doublet of "jealous," which took a different meaning down a separate path.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for zealous
See all rhymes for zealous →Frequently asked questions
What does “zealous” mean?
The word “zealous” means filled with energetic enthusiasm or eagerness, especially for a cause or duty. In plain terms, very enthusiastic and committed — sometimes admiringly, sometimes as a criticism of going too far.
How do you pronounce “zealous”?
“Zealous” is pronounced ZEH-luhs (/ˈzɛləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “zealous” in a sentence?
Here is “zealous” used in a sentence: “The zealous volunteers arrived before dawn to set up the shelter.”
What part of speech is “zealous”?
“Zealous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “zealous” come from?
The word “zealous” comes from Latin. From Latin zēlōsus, from zēlus ("zeal"); a doublet of "jealous," which took a different meaning down a separate path.
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