enthusiast
gb/ɪnθˈuziˌæst/ us/ɪnθˈuziˌæst/
B2
English
~ 7700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
person very keen on something
A person who really loves an activity or subject and spends a lot of time on it.
Usage pattern:
a [topic] enthusiast
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun 'enthusiast' with the adjective 'enthusiastic'. Use 'enthusiast' as a noun for a person (e.g., 'She is a music enthusiast') and 'enthusiastic' before a noun or after 'be' as an adjective (e.g., 'She is enthusiastic about music'). Another mistake is saying '*He is enthusiast about football'; this is incorrect. Say 'He is an enthusiast of/for football' or 'He is enthusiastic about football'.
Synonyms
fan (More informal and very common; can sound a bit lighter or less serious than enthusiast.)
|
aficionado (Sounds slightly formal or stylish and often suggests deep knowledge as well as interest.)
|
buff (Informal; often used for people who know a lot about a subject, for example, a history buff.)
|
devotee (Stronger sense of dedication or emotional attachment than enthusiast, sometimes almost like a follower.)
Antonyms
casual observer (Describes someone who only shows light or passing interest, the opposite of a deeply involved enthusiast.)
Collocations
music enthusiast
|sports enthusiast
|car enthusiast
|tech enthusiast
|film enthusiast
|railway enthusiast
Themes
hobbies
|daily life
|personality
|daily_life
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He’s a real car enthusiast and spends every weekend working on his old Jaguar.
- As a music enthusiast, she goes to at least two live concerts every month.
- The museum was full of photography enthusiasts comparing lenses and camera bodies.
- Gaming enthusiasts lined up overnight to buy the new console on release day.
- Local food enthusiasts started an online group to share new restaurant finds.
Learner examples
- My brother is a sports enthusiast and watches every game.
- She is a language enthusiast and studies English every evening.
- Many coffee enthusiasts came to try the new café in town.
- He is a film enthusiast, so he goes to the cinema every week.
- Art enthusiasts filled the gallery on the opening night.
Noun
C1
entity
2
strong supporter of an idea
A person who strongly supports a new idea or change and is very excited about it.
Usage pattern:
an enthusiast for [idea]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse the structure 'enthusiast of' in this sense. In modern English, 'enthusiast for' or 'enthusiast of' are both possible, but 'enthusiast for' is more common when talking about ideas or policies (e.g., 'an enthusiast for reform'). Also, do not use it as a verb in this sense; say 'He supports the plan', not '*He enthusiasts the plan'.
Synonyms
supporter (A broad, neutral word; does not always suggest the same level of personal excitement as enthusiast.)
|
advocate (Often implies publicly speaking or working for a cause; can sound more formal or political than enthusiast.)
|
proponent (Formal; focuses on arguing in favor of an idea, especially in written or academic contexts.)
Antonyms
opponent (Refers to someone who is against an idea or change, the opposite of a strong supporter or enthusiast.)
Collocations
an enthusiast for reform
|an early enthusiast of the internet
|an enthusiast for change
|an enthusiast for democracy
Themes
politics
|society
|technology
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was an early enthusiast of online learning long before it became common.
- The mayor is an enthusiastic reformer and a keen enthusiast for public transport projects.
- Many technology enthusiasts quickly became enthusiasts for open‑source software.
- He was once an enthusiast for the project, but now he is one of its biggest critics.
- Environmental enthusiasts have become strong enthusiasts for renewable energy policies.
Learner examples
- He is an enthusiast for free education for all children.
- Many young people are enthusiasts for fast internet and new apps.
- She became an enthusiast for green energy after reading the report.
- Some teachers are strong enthusiasts for new teaching methods.
- The city leader is an enthusiast for better public parks.
Noun
archaic
C2
entity
3
religious fanatic (archaic use)
(Old use) A person whose religious feelings are very strong and extreme.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this older sense is common today. In modern English, 'enthusiast' is almost always positive and refers to strong interest or support, not religious madness or extremism. For modern use, prefer 'fanatic' or 'extremist' when this negative meaning is intended.
Synonyms
fanatic (Modern word for a person with extreme and often unreasonable beliefs or enthusiasm, especially in religion or politics.)
Antonyms
moderate (Describes someone whose beliefs are not extreme, opposite to a religious or ideological enthusiast in this older sense.)
Collocations
religious enthusiast
|fanatic and enthusiast
|wild enthusiast
Themes
religion
|history
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The preacher dismissed his critics as cold formalists and himself as merely an earnest enthusiast.
- To his opponents, he appeared not as a reformer but as a dangerous religious enthusiast.
- In the pamphlet, the author warns against the influence of enthusiasts who claim private revelations.
- The movement was led by a small band of enthusiasts whose zeal alarmed the church authorities.
- Some viewed her as a saint, others as an enthusiast whose visions bordered on madness.
Learner examples
- In this old text, the word 'enthusiast' means a religious fanatic.
- Writers in the past sometimes used 'enthusiast' for a person with extreme religious ideas.
- The teacher explained that 'enthusiast' once meant someone with very wild religious feelings.
- In this story, the priest calls his enemy an enthusiast because of his strong beliefs.
- Old books may use 'enthusiast' in a negative way for extreme believers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
enthusiast
IPA
GB/ɪnθˈuziˌæst/
US/ɪnθˈuziˌæst/
Syllables & stress
en - thu - si - ast (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (thu)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: enthusiast
- Plural: enthusiasts
Word family
Forms
enthusiasts
noun
Core family
Related words
enthuse
verb C1
Negative and opposite forms
unenthusiastic
adjective C1
unenthusiastically
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.