Exuberant | Definition of exuberant by Merriam-Webster

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

: produced in extreme abundance : plentiful <exuberant foliage and vegetation>

— ex·u·ber·ant·ly adverb

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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

First Known Use: 15th century

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>.

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 Definition of EXUBERANT

: characterized by extreme proliferation <exuberant granulation tissue> <remarkably exuberant metastatic calcification—Sandy Muspratt>

Learn More About EXUBERANT

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "exuberant"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "exuberant"

Nglish: Translation of "exuberant" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "exuberant" for Arabic speakers

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