thrilling
/ˈθɹɪlɪŋ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: thrillings
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Causing a feeling of sudden excitement.
Adjective
Examples
He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A thrill.
Noun
Examples
[…] my heart told me that she did all be stirred with small thrillings of defiance unto me, and with thrillings of love […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “thrilling” mean?
Causing a feeling of sudden excitement.
Is “thrilling” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.