Alacrity

Cheerful readiness and brisk, eager action; eager willingness to do something.

noun

💡

Imagine This

Picture a student hearing a challenging question in class. Before the teacher finishes the call, the student jumps up with a bright smile, volunteering to answer and starting to explain the solution with energy and confidence.

🔊

Sounds Like

uh-LAK-ruh-tee

👀

Looks Like

Looks like other -ity nouns (clarity, celerity); begins with the unusual 'ala-' cluster and ends with '-crity'.

📝

Remember This

Alacrity emphasizes cheerful eagerness and promptness, not just speed. It often carries a positive, proactive connotation.

📚

Other Forms

alacritousadjective

alacritiouslyadverb

🔗

Connect With

eagerness, enthusiasm, readiness, briskness, zeal, promptness

📌

Note

Used with 'with alacrity' (e.g., 'accepted the task with alacrity'). It is more formal or literary than everyday 'speed' words. Do not confuse with mere quickness; alacrity includes attitude and willingness.

🧠

Study Deeper

Examples

She accepted the invitation with alacrity.
The volunteers approached the cleanup with alacrity, working until dusk.

Synonyms

eagernessenthusiasmreadinessbrisknesszeal

Antonyms

reluctancehesitationapathy

Etymology

From Latin alacritas 'liveliness, cheerfulness', from alacer 'lively, eager' (from ad- 'to' + licere 'to be willing').

Mnemonic

ALACRITY: Always Lively Attitude Creates Readiness In Time, Youth.

How well do you know this word now?

Your choice schedules the next review.

Next Word

Continue in alphabetical order.

Alienate

Try a Random Word

Pick any word below to jump in.

Empathy

noun

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another person; the capacity to place oneself in someone else's emotional experience.

Ardor

noun

Great warmth of feeling; intense passion or enthusiasm.

Discipline

noun

1) Training or exercise intended to produce obedience, self-control, and orderly behavior; 2) a branch or field of study; 3) self-control or restraint in thoughts and actions.

Similar Words

Related words and words with the same part of speech.

Abasement

noun

The act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.

Absurdity

noun

The quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.

Accent

noun

A distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).

Accolade

noun

An honor; a public expression of praise or an award.

Acrimony

noun

Bitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling

Acronym

noun

A word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).

Study beyond this word

Turn vocabulary practice into a complete SAT plan

Add a workbook for repetition or the official guide for full-test context.

Compare all resources

Vocabulary in context

SAT Vocabulary Workbook

The closest companion to SATVocab for students who want guided lessons and written practice.

Check the workbook

The Official Digital SAT Study Guide book cover

First-time test takers

Official SAT Guide

Official question styles, test structure, and print practice from the College Board.

Check the official guide

Paid Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.