thrill
gb/θɹˈɪl/ us/θɹˈɪl/
B1
English
~ 5600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
sudden feeling of excitement
A short, very strong feeling of joy and excitement about something.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a thrill for [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'thrill' (a strong feeling of excitement) with 'thriller' (a type of exciting book or movie). For example, 'It was a great thrill' is correct, while 'It was a great thriller' means the book or movie itself, not the feeling.
Synonyms
excitement (A broader, more general word; it can be weaker or longer-lasting, while a thrill is usually short and intense.)
Antonyms
boredom (Describes a lack of interest or excitement, which is the opposite of feeling a thrill.)
Collocations
a real thrill
|the thrill of [something]
|get a thrill
|feel a thrill
|give [someone] a thrill
|the thrill of a lifetime
Themes
emotions
|entertainment
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- Riding the roller coaster was a huge thrill for the kids.
- She gets a thrill every time she steps on stage.
- Meeting her favorite actor was the thrill of her year.
- The sudden silence in the stadium sent a thrill through the crowd.
- He still remembers the thrill of holding his first published book.
Learner examples
- Flying in a plane for the first time was a big thrill for me.
- I feel a thrill when I hear this song.
- The game gave the fans a real thrill at the end.
- Winning the prize was a great thrill for our team.
- The children get a thrill from opening their presents.
Verb
B1
action
2
to make someone very excited
To make someone feel very happy and excited for a short time.
Usage pattern:
to thrill [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners often say 'I am very thrill' instead of 'I am thrilled'. Use 'thrill' as a verb (It thrills me) or the past participle as an adjective (I am thrilled).
Synonyms
excite (Very close in meaning, but 'thrill' often suggests a sharper, more intense feeling than 'excite'.)
Antonyms
bore (To make someone feel uninterested or tired, which is the opposite of thrilling them.)
Collocations
thrill [someone]
|thrill the audience
|thrill fans
|thrilled to hear
|thrilled to see
|thrilled by the news
Themes
emotions
|entertainment
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- The singer thrilled the crowd with her powerful voice.
- It thrilled me to see my parents so proud.
- The surprise visit from her best friend really thrilled her.
- Their comeback victory thrilled fans around the world.
- I was thrilled to receive your invitation to the wedding.
Learner examples
- The movie thrilled the young audience.
- It thrilled me to get the job offer.
- Her story thrilled everyone at the party.
- My parents were thrilled to meet my new baby.
- We were thrilled by the good news.
Noun
B2
event
3
exciting, often risky enjoyment
An exciting thing you do for fun, often because it feels a little dangerous or crazy.
Usage pattern:
[someone] looks for thrills
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'thrills' when they mean 'thrillers' for movies or books. 'Thrills' are exciting feelings or experiences; 'thrillers' are exciting films or novels.
Synonyms
adventure (Suggests a longer or bigger experience; 'thrill' can be shorter and more focused on the feeling of excitement, often from risk.)
Antonyms
safety (Focuses on avoiding risk and danger, which is opposite to seeking thrills from risky activities.)
Collocations
cheap thrills
|thrills and spills
|thrill seeker
|seek thrills
|for the thrill
|thrill ride
Themes
entertainment
|lifestyle
|travel
|daily_life
|emotions
Examples
- He enjoys the thrills of extreme sports like skydiving.
- The movie offers plenty of thrills but not much story.
- Some people travel just for the thrills of exploring dangerous places.
- She says she’s done chasing cheap thrills at noisy clubs.
- This theme park is famous for its high-speed thrills and scary rides.
Learner examples
- They go to the theme park for the thrills.
- He loves the thrills of fast cars.
- I’m tired of cheap thrills at parties.
- She is always looking for new thrills.
- That game has a lot of thrills but no real story.
Verb
literary
C1
action
4
to feel thrilled (literary)
To suddenly feel very happy and excited about something, used mainly in written or formal English.
Usage pattern:
[someone] thrills at [something]
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, people usually say 'I was thrilled' rather than 'I thrilled'. The intransitive use ('I thrilled at...') sounds literary or old-fashioned.
Synonyms
rejoice (A more formal word for feeling great joy; 'thrill' suggests a sharper, more excited feeling.)
Antonyms
shrink back (To react with fear or dislike instead of with pleasure and excitement.)
Collocations
thrill at the sight
|thrill to the sound
|thrill to [something]
|he thrilled as [clause]
Themes
emotions
|literature
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She thrilled at the sight of the mountains rising above the clouds.
- Fans thrilled to the sound of the orchestra starting the familiar theme.
- He thrilled as the crowd began to chant his name.
- Children still thrill at stories of dragons and heroes.
- The audience thrilled to every note of her performance.
Learner examples
- I thrilled at the chance to travel abroad.
- The students thrilled to the teacher’s story.
- She thrilled at the sound of her baby’s first word.
- We thrilled to the final goal in the game.
- He thrilled at the idea of living in another country.
Verb
archaic
C2
action
5
to pierce (archaic/literary)
To cut or go through something with a sharp point; an old use that you mainly see in very old or poetic texts.
Usage pattern:
to thrill [something/someone] with [a weapon]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this old meaning is still common because they see it in classic literature. In modern English, use 'pierce', 'stab', or 'penetrate' instead of 'thrill' in this sense.
Synonyms
pierce (Modern common verb; 'thrill' in this sense is old-fashioned and mainly literary.)
Antonyms
heal (To make whole or healthy again, the opposite of injuring or piercing.)
Collocations
thrill the heart
|thrilled with a spear
|thrilled by an arrow
Themes
violence
|literature
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The warrior was thrilled through the breast by the enemy’s spear.
- A sudden cry thrilled the silent air, as if the night itself were wounded.
- The arrow thrilled the darkness before finding its mark.
- His words thrilled her heart like a dagger in some old poems.
- The lance thrilled the shield and shattered it into pieces.
Learner examples
- In the old poem, a spear thrills the king’s body.
- The story says the knight is thrilled by an arrow.
- This archaic use of 'thrill' means to pierce with a weapon.
- The old text tells how the sword thrills the man’s chest.
- In Shakespeare, 'thrill' can mean to cut or pierce.
Grammar
Dictionary form
thrill
IPA
GB/θɹˈɪl/
US/θɹˈɪl/
Syllables & stress
thrill (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (thrill)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: thrill
- Plural: thrills
Verb
- Base: thrill
- 3rd Person Singular: thrills
- Present Participle: thrilling
- Past: thrilled
Word family
Forms
thrills
noun
thrilling
verb
thrilled
verb
Related words
thriller
noun B2
Advanced or less common
thrillingly
adverb
Expressions
a real thrill
1/ə ɹˈil θɹˈɪl/
fixed phrase
very strong exciting experience
A very strong and special feeling of excitement and happiness.
Examples
- Meeting you in person is a real thrill.
- It was a real thrill to see my name on the list.
- Watching my child perform on stage was a real thrill for me.
cheap thrills
1/t͡ʃˈip θɹˈɪlz/
idiom
quick but shallow excitement
Fun or exciting things that feel good for a short time but are not deep, serious, or important.
Examples
- He’s not interested in a serious relationship; he just wants cheap thrills.
- The movie is full of cheap thrills but has a weak story.
- I’m tired of cheap thrills and late-night parties.
for the thrill of it
1/fɚ ðə θɹˈɪl əv ˈɪt/
idiom
do something just for excitement
To do something only because it is exciting and fun, not for money or other reasons.
Examples
- They broke into the old house just for the thrill of it.
- Some people take risks online for the thrill of it.
- He says he climbs mountains for the thrill of it, not for fame.
get your thrills
1/ɡˈɛt jˈʊɹ θɹˈɪlz/
idiom
informal
find exciting things for fun
To find and enjoy exciting activities or experiences.
Examples
- Where do you get your thrills these days?
- Some people get their thrills from horror movies, others from rock climbing.
- He gets his thrills racing cars on the weekend.
give someone a thrill
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə θɹˈɪl/
fixed phrase
cause someone strong excitement
To make someone feel a sudden strong feeling of happiness and excitement.
Examples
- It would really give her a thrill if you called on her birthday.
- The letter from his old teacher gave him a thrill.
- Seeing her artwork displayed in the gallery gave her a thrill she’ll never forget.
the thrill of victory
1/ðə θɹˈɪl əv vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
strong excitement from winning
The very strong happiness and excitement you feel when you win.
Examples
- Athletes know well the thrill of victory and the pain of defeat.
- The team tasted the thrill of victory after many years of losing.
- Nothing matches the thrill of victory in front of a home crowd.
thrill ride
1/θɹˈɪl ɹˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
very exciting amusement ride
A ride in an amusement park that is very fast or scary and makes you feel strong excitement.
Examples
- That new roller coaster is the wildest thrill ride in the park.
- The park advertises more than twenty different thrill rides.
- I like gentle rides, but my friends always choose the big thrill rides.
thrill-seeking
1/θɹˈɪl sˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
looking for risky excitement
Regularly trying to find very exciting and often dangerous things to do.
Examples
- Her thrill-seeking behavior worries her parents.
- The film follows a group of friends on a thrill-seeking road trip.
- Thrill-seeking tourists come here for white-water rafting.
thrills and spills
1/θɹˈɪlz ˈænd spˈɪlz/
idiom
excitement plus minor dangers
Exciting events or activities that also include small accidents, falls, or problems.
Examples
- The show offers plenty of thrills and spills for the whole family.
- Ice hockey is known for its thrills and spills on the ice.
- The holiday had its thrills and spills, but we had a great time.
what a thrill
1/wˈʌt ə θɹˈɪl/
fixed phrase
informal
exclamation about strong excitement
A phrase you say when something makes you feel very excited and happy.
Examples
- What a thrill to finally be here with you all!
- Winning the competition—what a thrill!
- What a thrill it was to ride in that race car.
the thrill of the chase
1/ðə θɹˈɪl əv ðə t͡ʃˈeɪs/
idiom
excitement of trying to get something
The great excitement you feel while you are trying to get something, not just when you finally get it.
Examples
- For her, it isn’t about the prize; it’s the thrill of the chase.
- Some people date mainly for the thrill of the chase.
- Detectives often say they love the thrill of the chase more than the moment of arrest.
the thrill of the chase
2/ðə θɹˈɪl əv ðə t͡ʃˈeɪs/
idiom
excitement of trying to get something
The strong feeling of excitement you have while you are trying hard to get something or someone you want.
Examples
- For some people, it’s the thrill of the chase that makes dating fun.
- He enjoys the thrill of the chase more than actually closing the deal.
- The thrill of the chase kept the hunters going all night.
thrill seeker
1/θɹˈɪl sˈikɚ/
fixed phrase
person who looks for excitement
Someone who likes to do very exciting, often dangerous things for fun.
Examples
- Thrill seekers travel to the region for skydiving and bungee jumping.
- The tour is designed for thrill seekers who love extreme sports.
- He’s a real thrill seeker who is always planning his next extreme sport.
- Thrill seekers travel here for the world’s highest bungee jump.
- The park is not just for thrill seekers; there are gentle rides for children too.
- He’s a real thrill seeker and is always planning his next adventure.