thrill
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure.
An experience or event that causes such a feeling; also, to cause someone to feel excited or exhilarated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a mix of excitement and anticipation, sometimes with a slight element of fear or risk, commonly associated with novel or intense experiences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use 'thrill' similarly as noun and verb.
Connotations
Generally positive, associated with entertainment, adventure, and emotional peaks.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to thrill someoneto be thrilled by somethingto thrill at the thought ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “thrill seeker”
- “thrill of the chase”
- “thrill a minute”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; might appear in marketing or customer experience contexts, e.g., 'to thrill customers with innovative services.'
Academic
Uncommon; typically found in literary analysis, psychology, or cultural studies discussing emotion.
Everyday
Common in describing entertainment, sports, travel, and personal experiences.
Technical
Not used in technical fields; reserved for general language.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The festival thrilled attendees with live music.
- She thrills at the idea of exploring castles.
American English
- The parade thrilled the spectators downtown.
- He thrills to the challenge of a new project.
adverb
British English
- The play concluded thrillingly with a twist.
- He performed thrillingly on the stage.
American English
- The car accelerated thrillingly on the highway.
- She sang thrillingly during the concert.
adjective
British English
- The detective story was a thrilling read.
- We had a thrilling time at the seaside.
American English
- The thrilling baseball game ended with a home run.
- It was a thrilling hike in the national park.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I felt a thrill when I won the game.
- The puppy's tricks are a thrill to watch.
- The roller coaster ride was a big thrill.
- She was thrilled by the surprise party.
- He enjoys the thrill of competitive sailing.
- The thriller novel kept me in constant thrills.
- The artistic performance thrills with its emotional depth.
- They pursued the intellectual thrill of solving complex puzzles.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'thrill' like a 'drill' that bores into you with excitement – it gets your heart drilling with joy.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCITEMENT IS A PHYSICAL SENSATION, e.g., 'a thrill ran down his spine' or 'electric thrill.'
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'трепет', which can imply fear or reverence; 'thrill' is more about positive excitement.
- Do not confuse with 'волнение', which can mean anxiety; 'thrill' typically denotes enjoyable excitement.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'thrill' only for purely positive events; it can also imply nervous excitement, as in horror contexts.
- Confusing 'thrilled' (adjective meaning excited) with 'thrilling' (adjective meaning causing excitement).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'thrill'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly positive, but it can describe a mix of excitement and fear, such as in thrilling horror movies or risky adventures.
Yes, as a verb meaning to cause excitement, e.g., 'The announcement thrilled the team.'
'Thrill' often implies a more intense, sudden, or physical sensation, while 'excitement' can be broader and less immediate.
As an adjective meaning very excited: 'They were thrilled to receive the award.'