Library / English Dictionary

THRILL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Something that causes you to experience a sudden intense feeling or sensation

Example:

the thrills of space travel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("thrill" is a kind of...):

excitation; excitement (something that agitates and arouses)

Derivation:

thrill (feel sudden intense sensation or emotion)

thrill (fill with sublime emotion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An almost pleasurable sensation of fright

Example:

a frisson of surprise shot through him

Synonyms:

chill; frisson; quiver; shiver; shudder; thrill; tingle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("thrill" is a kind of...):

fear; fearfulness; fright (an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight))

Derivation:

thrill (feel sudden intense sensation or emotion)

thrill (fill with sublime emotion)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The swift release of a store of affective force

Example:

he does it for kicks

Synonyms:

bang; boot; charge; flush; kick; rush; thrill

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("thrill" is a kind of...):

excitement; exhilaration (the feeling of lively and cheerful joy)

Derivation:

thrill (feel sudden intense sensation or emotion)

thrill (fill with sublime emotion)

thrill (cause to be thrilled by some perceptual input)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Feel sudden intense sensation or emotion

Example:

he was thrilled by the speed and the roar of the engine

Synonyms:

thrill; tickle; vibrate

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "thrill" is one way to...):

excite; shake; shake up; stimulate; stir (stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

thrill (something that causes you to experience a sudden intense feeling or sensation)

thrill (an almost pleasurable sensation of fright)

thrill (the swift release of a store of affective force)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fill with sublime emotion

Example:

He was inebriated by his phenomenal success

Synonyms:

beatify; exalt; exhilarate; inebriate; thrill; tickle pink

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "thrill" is one way to...):

elate; intoxicate; lift up; pick up; uplift (fill with high spirits; fill with optimism)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

The bad news will thrill him

The performance is likely to thrill Sue

Derivation:

thrill (something that causes you to experience a sudden intense feeling or sensation)

thrill (an almost pleasurable sensation of fright)

thrill (the swift release of a store of affective force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement

Synonyms:

shiver; shudder; thrill; throb

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "thrill" is one way to...):

tremble (move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to be thrilled by some perceptual input

Example:

The men were thrilled by a loud whistle blow

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "thrill" is one way to...):

excite; stimulate; stir (stir feelings in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

thrill (the swift release of a store of affective force)

thriller (a suspenseful adventure story or play or movie)

Credits

 Context examples: 

It was indeed like old times when, at that hour, I found myself seated beside him in a hansom, my revolver in my pocket, and the thrill of adventure in my heart.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As he came into the circle of dim light which enables me to see him more clearly I was thrilled with horror at his appearance.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The letters from town, which a few days before would have made every nerve in Elinor's body thrill with transport, now arrived to be read with less emotion than mirth.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Not all Mars watchers are thrilled with the idea of a global dust storm, which can adversely affect ongoing missions.

(Dust Storms Linked to Gas Escape from Mars Atmosphere, NASA)

A thrill of fear passed through me as I thought that it was my appearance which had produced this outburst.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I knew that a thousand fearful accidents might occur, the slightest of which would disclose a tale to thrill all connected with me with horror.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Once I was wicked enough to stop in a thrilling place, and say meekly, 'I'm afraid it tires you, ma'am.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But now, if you are of my opinion, we have had thrills enough for one day, and had best get back to the surgical box at the camp for some carbolic.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He seemed to remember it all,—the white woods, and earth, and moonlight, and the thrill of battle.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Her father asked him to do them the honour of taking his mutton with them, and Fanny had time for only one thrill of horror, before he declared himself prevented by a prior engagement.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)