Meaning & use
lack of enthusiasm
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
A state of having little or no interest, excitement, or eagerness about something.
Grammar: Usually used with 'a' or 'no' before it: 'a lack of enthusiasm', 'no lack of enthusiasm'.
Patterns
- a lack of enthusiasm for something
- show a lack of enthusiasm
- lack of enthusiasm among someone
There was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm among the students for the new schedule.
His lack of enthusiasm for the project was clear from his silence.
The manager tried to hide her lack of enthusiasm during the meeting.
Common combinations
- a lack of enthusiasm
- The team showed a lack of enthusiasm after the long delay.
- lack of enthusiasm for something
- Her lack of enthusiasm for the plan worried her boss.
- no lack of enthusiasm
- There was no lack of enthusiasm at the party.
Synonyms and how they differ
- indifference
- Stronger and more neutral; it means not caring at all, while lack of enthusiasm may just mean low excitement.
- apathy
- More formal and often used for a general lack of interest in many things, not just one event.
Opposites
Word family
- enthusiastic adjective
- Showing strong interest or excitement.
- enthusiastically adverb
- In a way that shows strong interest or excitement.
Commonly confused: lack of enthusiasm or unenthusiastic?
lack of enthusiasm vs unenthusiastic
Unenthusiastic is an adjective describing a person or reaction; lack of enthusiasm is a noun phrase describing the absence of excitement.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'lack of enthusiasm' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase takes 'a' before it: 'a lack of enthusiasm'. Option B misses 'a'; option C puts 'a' in the wrong place; option D uses 'lacking' incorrectly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “lack of enthusiasm”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.