enthusiast
noun
en·thu·si·ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast 
-əst,
en-,
also -ˈthyü-
: a person filled with enthusiasm: such as
a
: one who is ardently attached to a cause, object, or pursuit
a sports car enthusiast
b
: one who tends to become ardently absorbed in an interest
Synonyms
- addict
- aficionado
- afficionado
- buff
- bug
- devotee
- fan
- fanatic
- fancier
- fiend
- fool
- freak
- habitué
- habitue
- head
- hound
- junkie
- junky
- lover
- maniac
- maven
- mavin
- nut
- sucker
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season
Recent Examples on the Web One enthusiast was Colonel Papadiamontopoulos, who would be the official starter for the marathon. 
Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 30 July 2021 CEO & Founder @ Refocus, EdTech enthusiast, investor, mentor, and marketing expert. Roman Kumar Vyas, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Vince represents the corrupt, soulless commercial music scene, while Stevie represents the purer world of the amateur enthusiast, who loves music for itself. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Aug. 2022 A year after the death of her husband, a climbing enthusiast (Grace Caroline Currey) gets talked into scaling a 2,000-foot-tall radio tower in the desert by her influencer best friend (Virginia Gardner). Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022 Those forces coalesced when the enthusiast, Phillip Sarofim, acquired the Meyers Manx brand in 2020, appointing the designer, Freeman Thomas, as CEO. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2022 Paid Partner Content See how celebrity food enthusiast, Adam Richman, gets inspired by White Castle Sliders. James Stavridis, Time, 18 May 2022 Mushrooms seem to play a big role in this look, like the stool in the bedroom of that Canadian ’core enthusiast [see photo, above]. Nina Molina, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Clifford says his expertise came from growing up alongside a watch-enthusiast grandfather. Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2022 See More
Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 30 July 2021 CEO & Founder @ Refocus, EdTech enthusiast, investor, mentor, and marketing expert. Roman Kumar Vyas, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Vince represents the corrupt, soulless commercial music scene, while Stevie represents the purer world of the amateur enthusiast, who loves music for itself. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Aug. 2022 A year after the death of her husband, a climbing enthusiast (Grace Caroline Currey) gets talked into scaling a 2,000-foot-tall radio tower in the desert by her influencer best friend (Virginia Gardner). Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2022 Those forces coalesced when the enthusiast, Phillip Sarofim, acquired the Meyers Manx brand in 2020, appointing the designer, Freeman Thomas, as CEO. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2022 Paid Partner Content See how celebrity food enthusiast, Adam Richman, gets inspired by White Castle Sliders. James Stavridis, Time, 18 May 2022 Mushrooms seem to play a big role in this look, like the stool in the bedroom of that Canadian ’core enthusiast [see photo, above]. Nina Molina, WSJ, 29 Apr. 2022 Clifford says his expertise came from growing up alongside a watch-enthusiast grandfather. Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
earlier, "person claiming to receive divine communication or inspiration, member of a putative early Christian sect making such claims," borrowed from Late Greek enthousiastḗs, going back to Greek, "person possessed by a god," from enthousiad-, stem of enthousiázein "to be inspired or possessed by a god" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at enthusiasm
First Known Use
1748, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
enthusiast
noun
en·thu·si·ast in-ˈthü-zē-ˌast
-ˈthyü-
: a person who is very excited about or interested in something
a fishing enthusiast
enthusiast
noun
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something skiing enthusiasts can't wait for the first snowfall of the season Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- lover
- fan
- sucker
- fanatic
- aficionado
- maniac
- addict
- devotee
- buff
- junkie
- fiend
- freak
- collector
- junky
- supporter
- afficionado
- maven
- admirer
- fool
- proponent
- hound
- fancier
- nut
- expert
- habitue
- friend
- connoisseur
- bug
- habitué
- amateur
- mavin
- groupie
- head
- promoter
- authority
- advocate
- dilettante
- exponent
- evangelist
- disciple
- zealot
- champion
- follower
- adherent
- patron
- cultist
- votary
- apostle
- faddist
- convert
- booster
- backer
- partisan
- hanger-on
- rooter
- partizan
- well-wisher
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- detractor
- critic
- nonfan
- carper
- belittler
- nonadmirer