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aflutter

aflutter

3 7.9
Feeling excited and a little nervous
  • adjective
  • /əˈflʌtər/
: emocionado
  • But even if you don't pick up any comics, now you hopefully know a little bit about why everybody is all aflutter about the game announcement.
  • heart aflutter
  • set my heart aflutter

Examples

  • The little girl was aflutter with excitement as she opened her birthday presents.

  • Trump, you have set my heart aflutter with your silver tongue.

  • It's more here I'm all aflutter.

  • So what are the qualities in a man that make Neely's heart go all aflutter?

    Blog text (4)
  • Next, a distinguished personage from Chicago had reserved the presidential suite and would arrive on Labor Day, setting female hearts aflutter.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The school is all aflutter as the dreamboat Charles sets his sights on virginal Tanya ( Mädchen Amick from TWIN PEAKS).

    Blog text (33)
  • As she stood on stage waiting for her name to be called, she felt her heart aflutter with excitement.

  • When I saw the surprise party they had planned for me, my stomach was aflutter with joy and nervous anticipation.

Synonyms

excited
vsaflutter
∞ 1.0

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is more specific, adding a nervous, trembling anticipation
agitated
vsaflutter
84 4.1

Feeling nervous, upset, and not calm

is chiefly about light trembling excitement rather than worry or trouble
overexcited
vsaflutter
6 4.3

Too active and noisy because of strong feelings

is milder, a trembling anticipation rather than excessive excitement
in a tizzy
vsaflutter
  • Informal
5 8.6

Feeling very nervous and confused about something

keeps the nervous excitement but not the confused agitation
bubbling
vsaflutter
4 3.9

Showing lively, happy energy

shares liveliness but lacks the nervous, quivering quality
agog
vsaflutter
3 7.1

Very excited to hear or see something

shares eagerness but focuses more on nervous trembling
ablaze
vsaflutter
3 5.3

Showing strong excitement or desire, often in the face

is closer to mild nervous anticipation than intense passion
atwitter
vsaflutter
  • Literature
2 8.9

Feeling excited and nervous while waiting for something

is like that but stresses a fluttering, trembling feeling
fluttery
vsaflutter
2 4.9

Feeling nervous and excited with a quick, shaky feeling in the body

is similar but emphasizes a stronger, more tremulous feeling
a-flutter
vsaflutter
  • Literature
1 8.9

Feeling excited and nervous with your heart beating fast

is identical in sense but written without the hyphen
1 4.7

Full of lively energy because people feel excited

is more about nervous trembling than energetic liveliness
1 4.6

You are so excited that you cannot breathe normally

is similar but milder, a trembling excitement rather than breathless intensity
flurried
vsaflutter
1 7.4

Feeling nervous and hurried after something sudden happens

is similar but centers on trembling anticipation rather than confusion
awhirl
vsaflutter
  • Literature
1 9.5

In a state of rapid activity and excitement

focuses on internal tremulous excitement rather than external bustle

Antonyms

680 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

1 3.7

Calm and not showing strong feeling

How Excited

thrilled
383 2.3
excited
∞ 1.0
aflutter
3 7.9
nervous
∞ 1.3
calm
680 1.0

Surface Forms

aflutter positive

Morphology

aflutter = flutter (semi-transparent) = a + flutter

The connection to 'flutter' is recognizable, but the adjectival prefix 'a-' meaning 'in a state of' is not very productive or familiar for many learners.

Etymology

Aflutter is made from the small a- meaning 'in' and flutter meaning 'a quick, light movement', like a bird's wings or a fast heartbeat. So, to be aflutter is to be 'in a flutter', feeling excited or nervous.