Ecstatic
Definitions and Meaning in English
- Feeling or expressing overwhelming joy, happiness, or excitement.
- A state of intense emotional or physical exhilaration or bliss.
- Marked by or characterized by great joy, often accompanied by a sense of euphoria.
- A person experiencing extreme joy or blissful excitement.
History and Origin
The word “ecstatic” comes from the Greek word ekstasis, meaning “a standing outside oneself,” derived from ek-, meaning “out,” and stasis, meaning “standing.” The term originally referred to a state of being so overwhelmed by emotions that a person feels as if they are outside of their usual self. It was later adopted into English in the 16th century, where it began to describe states of intense emotion, particularly those involving joy or bliss.
Detailed Explanation
“Ecstatic” refers to an emotional state of extreme happiness, joy, or excitement, often to the point where a person is visibly overwhelmed or unrestrained in their expression. When someone is ecstatic, they may experience a profound sense of euphoria, often feeling like they are “on top of the world.” This emotional state can be triggered by various events, such as personal achievements, the arrival of good news, or significant life milestones. Ecstatic people may display physical signs of their joy, such as jumping, clapping, or even crying tears of happiness.
Example Sentences
- She was ecstatic when she received the job offer she had been waiting for.
- The crowd was ecstatic as the team scored the winning goal in the final seconds.
- After hearing the news of her promotion, he was ecstatic and immediately called his family.
- The fans were ecstatic to see their favorite band perform live.
- His ecstatic reaction to the surprise party was priceless.
- They were ecstatic about their upcoming vacation to a tropical island.
- The children were ecstatic when they saw the presents under the Christmas tree.
- She felt ecstatic after completing her marathon in record time.
- The couple was ecstatic as they welcomed their first child into the world.
Synonyms with Short Explanation
- Euphoric – Experiencing intense happiness or excitement, similar to being ecstatic.
- Elated – Overjoyed or in high spirits due to a positive event.
- Joyful – Full of happiness and delight, often used to describe a cheerful emotional state.
- Overjoyed – Experiencing extreme happiness or delight, similar to being ecstatic.
- Exhilarated – Feeling a sense of intense joy and excitement, often accompanied by energy and liveliness.
Related Words with Short Explanation
- Blissful – Experiencing or showing extreme happiness or contentment, often similar to being ecstatic.
- Radiant – Displaying great joy or happiness, often reflected in one’s appearance or demeanor.
- Thrilled – Feeling a strong sense of joy and excitement, often from something unexpected or exciting.
- Jubilant – Feeling or expressing great happiness and celebration, especially after a success.
- Rapturous – Full of intense joy, admiration, or passion, often used to describe ecstatic feelings.
More Matches with Short Explanation
- Exultant – Marked by a high level of happiness or triumph.
- Gleeful – Filled with a sense of fun, happiness, or delight, often in a playful way.
- Enthusiastic – Showing eager or intense interest and excitement, though not always as extreme as ecstatic.
- On cloud nine – A phrase used to describe a state of extreme happiness or elation.
- Walking on air – An expression meaning to feel very happy and lighthearted, similar to feeling ecstatic.
Antonyms
- Depressed
- Sad
- Mournful
- Disappointed
- Downcast