was excited

USAGE SUMMARY

"was excited" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a past tense verb phrase that describes someone feeling intense joy or happiness. Example: I was excited to finally meet my favorite author in person. In this sentence, "was excited" expresses how the person felt in the past when meeting their favorite author. It can also be used in other tenses, such as "am excited" in present tense or "will be excited" in future tense.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

DiVincenzo was excited.

The New York Times - Sports

He was excited.

The New York Times - Magazine

Her voice was excited.

The New York Times

She was excited.

The New York Times - Sports

He was excited & happy.

The New Yorker

Everybody was excited.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Be, be excited!

The Guardian - Film

Our fans were excited".

The New York Times

Even ESPN is excited.

The New Yorker

Perrin is excited.

The New Yorker

They were excited.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was excited" to describe a past state of enthusiasm or anticipation. Ensure the subject and context clearly indicate what caused the excitement.

Common error

Avoid using "was excited" when referring to present or future feelings. Use "am excited" or "will be excited" to maintain accurate tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was excited" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the state of being of a subject in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples where individuals or groups experienced excitement about events, news, or opportunities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was excited" is a versatile and commonly used expression to describe a past feeling of enthusiasm or anticipation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammatical rules and is widely accepted. Its prevalence across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academia, indicates its broad applicability. When writing, ensure that the tense aligns with the intended meaning (avoiding present or future references). Alternatives such as "felt thrilled" or "was eager" can add nuance, while avoiding using "was excited" for present or future feelings helps maintain accuracy. With proper usage, "was excited" effectively conveys a past emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt thrilled

Emphasizes a stronger emotional response of joy and exhilaration.

was eager

Focuses on anticipation and impatience for something to happen.

was enthusiastic

Highlights a strong interest and positive attitude.

was elated

Suggests a feeling of great happiness and triumph.

was looking forward to it

Indicates anticipation of a future event.

was pumped up

Conveys a sense of energy and readiness.

was keyed up

Implies a state of nervous excitement.

brimmed with anticipation

Evokes a sense of fullness and eagerness.

was all agog

Suggests intense curiosity and excitement (less common, slightly archaic).

was in high spirits

Implies a cheerful and enthusiastic mood.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "was excited"?

You can use alternatives like "felt thrilled", "was eager", or "was enthusiastic" depending on the context.

How to use "was excited" in a sentence?

Use "was excited" to express a past feeling of enthusiasm or anticipation. For example: "She was excited to receive the acceptance letter."

Which is correct, "was excited" or "is excited"?

"Was excited" is past tense, while "is excited" is present tense. Choose the tense that accurately reflects when the feeling occurred or occurs.

What's the difference between "was excited about" and "was excited to"?

"Was excited about" is followed by a noun phrase (e.g., "was excited about the trip"), while "was excited to" is followed by a verb (e.g., "was excited to go").