Euphoria
noun /juːˈfɔːrɪə/ — A state of intense happiness and excitement — the body's announcement that something is very right.
Definition
A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness; a sense of well-being and elation so strong it sometimes feels unreal.
Beyond the definition
Euphoria is happiness at its most physical — it is felt in the body, not just thought. The word suggests a state so elevated it may not be entirely trustworthy. Medical contexts use it to describe a state that often precedes a crash, which has seeped into the general use: the word carries a slight shimmer of impermanence.
Origin & history
From Greek euphoria — well-being (from eu: well + pherein: to bear). The state of bearing well — the body carrying itself with ease and lightness.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The news arrived and she felt euphoria — a lightness so complete it briefly emptied her of words.
The euphoria of a new relationship, before reality negotiates its terms.
She distrusted euphoria now; she'd learned that the higher the altitude, the harder the landing.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Euphoria” when the meaning fits your context: A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness; a sense of well-being and elation so strong it sometimes feels unreal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
dysphoria, depression, misery
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Joyous spirit on a hilltop
An adult stands on a hilltop with arms raised to the sky, surrounded by a vast, open landscape.
The figure’s uninhibited joy and triumphant posture represent a state of intense happiness and elation, where the internal feeling is so strong it encompasses their whole being.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Euphoria" mean?
Euphoria is noun meaning: A state of intense happiness and excitement — the body's announcement that something is very right.. A feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness; a sense of well-being and elation so strong it sometimes feels unreal.
Where does the word "Euphoria" come from?
From Greek euphoria — well-being (from eu: well + pherein: to bear). The state of bearing well — the body carrying itself with ease and lightness.