Excited means feeling eager, enthusiastic, and full of energy about something that's happening or about to happen. When you're excited, your heart might beat faster, you might talk quickly, and you find it hard to sit still. You feel excited waiting for your birthday party, starting a new book you've been wanting to read, or hearing that school is canceled for a snow day.

Scientists say that when you're excited, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel alert and happy. This is why excited people often smile, bounce around, or can't stop talking about whatever they're looking forward to.

You can be excited about something good coming (excited about the field trip) or excited by something happening right now (excited by the thunder and lightning). Some people get excited easily, while others stay calmer. Either way, excitement is one of those feelings that can be contagious: when one person gets excited about an idea, their enthusiasm often spreads to others.

Notice that excited is different from nervous. Both involve extra energy, but excitement feels positive and happy, while nervousness feels worried or uncertain.