Excitement is a strong feeling of happiness, eagerness, or interest, often when something special is happening. It can also describe a lively or energetic atmosphere.
It is formed from 'excite' plus the noun‑forming suffix '-ment'. The root goes back to Latin 'excitare', meaning 'to stir up' or 'arouse'.
Excitement is your brain’s way of saying, 'Pay attention, this matters.' That’s why time can feel faster when you’re excited—your mind is so busy noticing details that the minutes slip by.
Like “excited,” “excitement” has been framed differently depending on gender, with women’s and girls’ excitement more often dismissed as trivial or immature. In some historical medical discourses, women’s “excitement” was pathologized while men’s was framed as vigor or passion.
Treat “excitement” as a neutral human response and avoid using it to trivialize interests stereotypically associated with women or girls. In professional contexts, balance references to excitement with recognition of skill, preparation, or expertise.
["enthusiasm","high interest","strong anticipation","positive energy"]
Women researchers in education, psychology, and media studies have highlighted how girls’ and women’s excitement around fandoms, politics, and science is often devalued; their work supports more respectful descriptions of emotional engagement.
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