Word of the day · 14 August 2026
ardent
/ˈɑːdənt/
adjective
Very enthusiastic or passionate; burning with feeling.
In a sentence
- Ardent fans lined up before dawn for tickets.
- He remains an ardent defender of public parks.
- Their ardent letters survived in a box in the attic.
In an image
Origin
From Latin ardens, present participle of ardere (to burn).
History
Ardent kept a literal link to fire in early English before settling on passionate feeling. Love poetry and political pamphlets both leaned on it. The word still suggests heat that moves people to speak or act. Compared with warm, it implies intensity that is hard to miss.
Nearby words
fervent · passionate · eager
Warm loyalty and desire that show in action.