First Known Use: 1592
Dictionary
thrill
verb \ˈthril\
: to cause (someone) to feel very excited or happy
: to feel very excited or happy about something
Full Definition of THRILL
transitive verb
1
a : to cause to experience a sudden sharp feeling of excitement <the news thrilled him> b : to cause to have a shivering or tingling sensation
2
: to cause to vibrate or tremble perceptibly
intransitive verb
1
: to move or pass so as to cause a sudden wave of emotion
See thrill defined for English-language learners
See thrill defined for kids
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Origin of THRILL
Middle English thirlen, thrillen to pierce, from Old English thyrlian, from thyrel hole, from thurh through — more at through
Related to THRILL
- Synonyms
- charge, electrify, excite, exhilarate, galvanize, intoxicate, pump up, titillate, turn on
THRILLINGLY Defined for Kids
1thrill
verb \ˈthril\
thrilledthrill·ing
Definition of THRILL for Kids
: to have or cause to have a sudden feeling of excitement or pleasure
— thrill·er noun
Word History of THRILL
In the 1300s a person who was thrilled might not live long enough to tell about it, because the Middle English verb thrillen—the ancestor of our word thrill—meant literally “to pierce” or “stab,” as with a sword or spear. Thrillen was a variant of thirlen, which continued Old English thyrlian, derived from thyrel, “hole.” (The word thyrel also entered into Old English nosthyrl, literally, “nose hole,” the ancestor of modern English nostril.) Because the feeling of being pierced is a little like the experience of being moved by a strong emotion, thrill came to mean “to cause someone to feel excited.”
2thrill
noun
Definition of THRILL for Kids
1
: a sudden strong feeling especially of excitement or happiness <the thrill of victory> <… Harry felt a sudden thrill of foreboding. — J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire>
2
: something that produces a feeling of excitement <The boys went into town in search of thrills.>
Medical Dictionary
thrill
noun \ˈthril\
Medical Definition of THRILL
: an abnormal fine tremor or vibration in the respiratory or circulatory systems felt on palpation <a continuous systolic and diastolic murmur, frequently associated with a thrill—R. L. Cecil & R. F. Loeb>
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