English

excitedly

gb/ɪksˈaɪtɪdli/ us/ɪksˈaɪtɪdli/
B1 English
Senses
0 senses
adverb B1 property
1

with eager, happy excitement

in a happy and eager way

Usage pattern: [someone] [verb] excitedly (about/at [something])
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with excitingly, which means “in an exciting way” (describing an event), not “in an excited way” (describing a person).
Synonyms
eagerly (emphasizes wanting something to happen soon.) | enthusiastically (emphasizes strong positive energy and support.) | animatedly (emphasizes lively movement or speech.)
Antonyms
calmly (without visible excitement or strong emotion.) | indifferently (without interest or enthusiasm.)
Collocations
smile excitedly |talk excitedly |say excitedly |shout excitedly |chatter excitedly |wait excitedly |look excitedly |wave excitedly |announce excitedly |whisper excitedly
Themes
emotions |daily_life |communication
Examples
  • The children talked excitedly about the school trip.
  • She opened the email and called her parents excitedly.
  • He pointed excitedly at the fireworks starting over the river.
Learner examples
  • I waited excitedly for my birthday.
  • She spoke excitedly about her new job.
adverb B2 property
2

with nervous, restless excitement

in a nervous and restless way

Usage pattern: [someone] [verb] excitedly (as/when [something happens])
Common mistake:
In this sense, excitedly can be negative (nervous), not only happy.
Synonyms
nervously (focuses on fear or anxiety.) | anxiously (focuses on worry about what will happen.) | agitatedly (suggests stronger disturbance or upset.)
Antonyms
composedly (calm and in control, especially under pressure.) | serenely (peaceful and untroubled.)
Collocations
pace excitedly |breathe excitedly |move excitedly |gesticulate excitedly |murmur excitedly |talk excitedly |look around excitedly |react excitedly |fidget excitedly |answer excitedly
Themes
emotions |stress
Examples
  • He paced excitedly outside the interview room, checking his phone every minute.
  • She spoke excitedly, her voice shaking as she explained what had happened.
  • The dog ran excitedly in circles when it heard the thunder.
Learner examples
  • He waited excitedly before the exam.
adverb C1 property
3

with sexual excitement or arousal

in a sexually excited way

Usage pattern: [someone] [verb] excitedly (at/by [someone/something])
Common mistake:
In many contexts, excitedly is not sexual; this meaning is usually clear only from context (especially in romantic writing).
Synonyms
arousingly (more explicit; often used to describe something that causes arousal.)
Antonyms
unresponsively (showing no interest or physical reaction.)
Collocations
breathe excitedly |whisper excitedly |laugh excitedly |tremble excitedly |kiss excitedly |respond excitedly |touch excitedly |hold on excitedly
Themes
emotions |relationships
Examples
  • They kissed, and he breathed excitedly against her neck.
  • She whispered excitedly in his ear as they moved closer.
  • He trembled excitedly when she took his hand.
Grammar
Dictionary form
excitedly
IPA
GB/ɪksˈaɪtɪdli/
US/ɪksˈaɪtɪdli/
Syllables & stress
ex - citedly (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (citedly)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: excitedly
  • Plural: excitedlies
Word family
Forms
excitedlies noun
Core family
excite verb A2 excitement noun A2 excited adjective exciting adjective A2
Related words
excitingly adverb excitable adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unexcited adjective unexciting adjective
Advanced or less common
excitability noun excitably adverb
Expressions

No expressions linked to this entry yet.

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