A thrill is an intense feeling of excitement, often mixed with a little fear or nervousness. When you ride a roller coaster and feel your stomach drop as you plummet down a steep hill, that rush of excitement and alarm is a thrill. The word captures that electric moment when your heart pounds and you feel completely alive.

People seek out thrills in different ways. Some find them in amusement parks or action movies. Others get a thrill from performing on stage, competing in sports, or reading a scary story. A skier might feel a thrill carving down a steep mountain slope, while a student might experience a thrill standing up to give an important presentation.

As a verb, thrill means to give someone that strong feeling of excitement. A surprise announcement might thrill the crowd, or a close game might thrill the fans.

The word thrilled means extremely pleased or excited, though usually without the element of fear. You might feel thrilled to receive an award or thrilled to see a friend you haven't seen in years. When something is thrilling, it's exciting enough to produce that powerful feeling: a thrilling victory, a thrilling discovery, or a thrilling adventure.

A thriller is a book or movie designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, full of suspense and excitement.