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Ecstatic has been used in our language since the late 16th century, and the noun ecstasy is even older, dating from the 1300s. Both derive from the Greek verb existanai ("to put out of place"), which was used in a Greek phrase meaning "to drive someone out of his or her mind." That seems an appropriate history for words that can describe someone who is nearly out of their mind with intense emotion. In early use, ecstatic was sometimes linked to mystic trances, out-of-body experiences, and temporary madness. Today, however, it typically implies a state of enthusiastic excitement or intense happiness.
Synonyms
Examples of ecstatic in a Sentence
Barbara Ehrenreich, Civilization, June/July 2000
… in dietary terms we are veritable troglodytes (which, speaking personally, is all right by me). I think this explains a lot, not least my expanding sense of dismay as the waiter bombarded us with ecstatic descriptions of roulades, ratatouilles, empanadas, langostinos … and goodness knows what else.
—Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
He was ecstatic when he heard that he was going to be a father.
a football player who was ecstatic upon receiving a full athletic scholarship to the college of his choice
Emily Blackwood, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
And when Oliver was born in the fall, about a year after she got married, Sara was ecstatic.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 26 Jan. 2025
When the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on Sunday, Zakariya was ecstatic.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
Bob Myers, the architect of four titles as the Golden State Warriors’ general manager, was part of the ecstatic postgame scene.
—Ben Standig, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near ecstatic
Cite this Entry
“Ecstatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecstatic. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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