exultation
gb/ˈɪɡzʌltˌeɪʃən/ us/ˈɪɡzʌltˌeɪʃən/
C1
English
~ 8500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
state
1
a feeling of great joy
A very strong feeling of great joy, often because you win or succeed at something.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels exultation at/over [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "exultation" with the verb "exalt" or the noun "exaltation" (meaning praise or raising something higher). "Exultation" is about feeling great joy, usually after success, and is used as a noun, not as a verb. Also, learners may try to use it in very casual speech, but it sounds more formal or literary there; in everyday conversation, "so happy" or "overjoyed" are more common.
Synonyms
elation (Very close in meaning; common in both everyday and formal use, slightly less intense than exultation.)
|
jubilation (Strong joy, often shared by a group after success; slightly more public and noisy than exultation.)
|
triumph (Can mean both the victory itself and the joyful feeling that follows; more focused on winning.)
Antonyms
misery (A state of great unhappiness, the emotional opposite of exultation.)
|
despair (A feeling of complete loss of hope, directly contrasting with the joyful hopefulness of exultation.)
Collocations
a feeling of exultation
|sense of exultation
|tears of exultation
|in a state of exultation
|exultation at the victory
Themes
emotions
|celebrations
|psychology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He could not hide his exultation when he heard that he had passed the exam.
- There was a quiet exultation in her voice as she described the team's last-minute win.
- The crowd watched in exultation as the final goal went in.
- Her exultation quickly turned to worry when she realized how much work still remained.
- Winning the case filled the lawyers with exultation after months of hard preparation.
Learner examples
- He felt exultation when he got the job.
- The team was in exultation after they won the game.
- She spoke with exultation about her success.
- We saw exultation on his face when he met his newborn son.
- Their exultation was clear when they heard the good news.
Noun
literary
C2
action
2
a joyful outburst or display
An active, often loud way of showing great joy, like shouting, dancing, or singing after a big success.
Usage pattern:
[someone] breaks into exultation at [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "exultation" always describes a quiet, inner feeling. In this sense, it describes visible or noisy actions (shouting, dancing, singing) that show great joy. In very casual speech, people usually say things like "everyone went crazy" or "everyone cheered" instead of using this more literary noun.
Synonyms
rejoicing (Emphasizes the outward celebration of good news or success, often by a group.)
|
celebration (A more general word for events or actions that show happiness about something.)
Antonyms
lamentation (Loud expression of sorrow or grief, opposite in emotional tone to exultation.)
|
mourning (Public or private expression of sadness, especially after a loss, contrasting with joyful exultation.)
Collocations
cries of exultation
|shouts of exultation
|dance of exultation
|song of exultation
|leap in exultation
Themes
emotions
|celebrations
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- With a shout of exultation, she threw her hands into the air as the winning number was called.
- The fans erupted in exultation when the underdog team scored in the final seconds.
- He leapt in exultation, unable to contain his joy at the news.
- Songs of exultation echoed through the streets after the announcement.
- They embraced in pure exultation as the final result appeared on the screen.
Learner examples
- The crowd cried out in exultation when their team won.
- She jumped up in exultation when she saw her test score.
- There were shouts of exultation in the stadium.
- He danced in exultation after he finished the race.
- The people sang in exultation when peace was announced.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exultation
IPA
GB/ˈɪɡzʌltˌeɪʃən/
US/ˈɪɡzʌltˌeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
ex - ulta - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ex)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: exultation
- Plural: exultation, exultations
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.