what a thrill

USAGE SUMMARY

"What a thrill" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It's mainly used as an expression of excitement and enthusiasm. For example, "What a thrill it is to see my name in print for the first time!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What a thrill!" Marc frowns.

The Guardian - Travel

What a thrill!" LeBlanc commented following his surprise announcement.

Independent

I can't tell you what a thrill it was.

The New York Times

"What a thrill, what an excitement, what a historical event".

The New Yorker

"What a thrill it was for Elyssa," Shea said.

The New York Times

What a thrill to be associated with it.

The Guardian - Film

"What a thrill for a youngster from Brooklyn".

The New York Times - Sports

But what a thrill to reel it in".

The New York Times - Sports

What a thrill, he thinks, to stand lecturing before a roomful of American students.

The New Yorker

"What a thrill," he said, his eyes lighting up at the memory.

The New York Times - Magazine

And then Federer started playing tennis and what a thrill it was.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what a thrill" to express genuine excitement or enthusiasm about an event, experience, or achievement. It adds a personal touch to your writing and helps convey your emotion effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "what a thrill" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for more subdued expressions like "I am pleased" or "I am delighted" to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what a thrill" primarily functions as an exclamatory expression. As Ludwig AI confirms, it conveys a sense of excitement, pleasure, or exhilaration about a particular event, experience, or achievement. It is typically used to express a speaker's subjective positive reaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what a thrill" is a common exclamatory phrase used to convey excitement and pleasure. As Ludwig AI notes, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in news and media. While versatile, it's best to avoid it in extremely formal contexts, where more subdued expressions might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "what a delight" or "how exciting" depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What a delight

Replaces "thrill" with "delight", focusing on the pleasure aspect of the experience.

What an excitement

Substitutes "thrill" with "excitement", emphasizing the anticipation and eagerness.

What a joy

Replaces "thrill" with "joy", highlighting the happiness and pleasure derived from the experience.

What a pleasure

Uses "pleasure" instead of "thrill", focusing on the enjoyable nature of the event.

What a rush

Employs "rush" to convey a sense of intense excitement and exhilaration.

How exciting

Simplifies the expression to a direct statement of excitement.

How thrilling

Uses "thrilling" as an adjective to describe the exciting nature of something.

It's so exciting

Changes the structure to a statement emphasizing the high level of excitement.

It's such a blast

Replaces "thrill" with "blast", conveying a sense of fun and enjoyment.

This is exhilarating

Focuses on the empowering and uplifting nature of the experience.

FAQs

How can I use "what a thrill" in a sentence?

You can use "what a thrill" to express excitement or pleasure, for instance, "What a thrill it was to meet the author!" or "What a thrill to finally see my work published!"

What are some alternatives to "what a thrill"?

You can use alternatives like "what a delight", "what an excitement", or "how exciting" depending on the context.

Is "what a thrill" suitable for formal writing?

While "what a thrill" is acceptable in many contexts, it may be too informal for formal writing. Consider using more professional alternatives like "I am delighted" or "I am pleased".

What's the difference between "what a thrill" and "what a pleasure"?

"What a thrill" emphasizes excitement and exhilaration, while "what a pleasure" focuses more on enjoyment and satisfaction. Choose the phrase that best reflects the specific emotion you want to convey.