This list includes 100 Adjectives that start with E, from “eager” to “exhaustive”. Many are common descriptive words you can use in writing, speech, and editing.
Adjectives that start with E are single-word descriptors that modify nouns and give precise detail. English includes many E-adjectives borrowed from Latin and French, like “elegant”.
Below you’ll find the table with Adjective, Definition, and Example sentence.
Adjective: The word in its base form so you can scan, copy, and use it directly in sentences.
Definition: A concise, one-line meaning that helps you understand nuance and pick the right adjective quickly.
Example sentence: A short, natural sentence showing typical use so you can see context and collocation patterns.
Adjectives that start with E
| Adjective | Part of speech & source | Register | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| eager | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | She was eager to start the project. |
| early | adj — Oxford | neutral | He arrived early for the meeting. |
| earnest | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | She made an earnest effort to improve. |
| earthly | adj — Oxford | neutral | They enjoyed earthly comforts on vacation. |
| easy | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | This puzzle is easy to solve. |
| eccentric | adj — Oxford | neutral | His eccentric behavior amused everyone. |
| eclectic | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | Her playlist has an eclectic mix of genres. |
| economic | adj — Oxford | formal | They discussed economic policy after the speech. |
| economical | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | This car is economical on fuel. |
| edible | adj — Oxford | neutral | The berries are edible, but taste bland. |
| educated | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | She is an educated and curious person. |
| educational | adj — Oxford | formal | The documentary was educational and engaging. |
| effervescent | adj — Merriam-Webster | poetic | Her effervescent personality lit up the room. |
| effective | adj — Oxford | neutral | The new policy proved effective quickly. |
| efficient | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | An efficient system saves time and money. |
| effusive | adj — Oxford | formal | He gave an effusive thank-you speech. |
| egregious | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | The mistake was an egregious oversight. |
| elaborate | adj — Oxford | formal | She gave an elaborate explanation to the class. |
| elastic | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | The band is elastic and stretches easily. |
| elder | adj — Oxford | neutral | They respected their elder neighbor’s advice. |
| elderly | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The elderly man enjoyed his quiet morning. |
| electric | adj — Oxford | neutral | The concert created an electric atmosphere. |
| electrical | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | He studied electrical systems at university. |
| electrified | adj — Oxford | neutral | The crowd felt electrified by the finale. |
| electronic | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | We signed the document with an electronic signature. |
| elegant | adj — Oxford | formal | She wore an elegant black dress. |
| elemental | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | The report discussed elemental forces of nature. |
| elementary | adj — Oxford | neutral | We covered elementary grammar in class. |
| elevated | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | He spoke in an elevated, formal tone. |
| eligible | adj — Oxford | neutral | You are eligible to apply next year. |
| elitist | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The proposal seemed elitist and exclusionary. |
| elusive | adj — Oxford | neutral | The solution remained elusive for days. |
| embattled | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The embattled company faced many lawsuits. |
| embarrassed | adj — Oxford | neutral | He felt embarrassed after the mistake. |
| embarrassing | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | That was an embarrassing public moment. |
| embryonic | adj — Oxford | technical | The project is in an embryonic stage. |
| eminent | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | She consulted an eminent scientist for advice. |
| emotional | adj — Oxford | neutral | He had an emotional reaction to the news. |
| emotive | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | The speech used emotive language deliberately. |
| empirical | adj — Oxford | formal | They relied on empirical data for their study. |
| empowering | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The training was empowering for new employees. |
| empty | adj — Oxford | neutral | The room was empty and silent. |
| enchanted | adj — Merriam-Webster | poetic | The forest felt enchanted at dusk. |
| enchanting | adj — Oxford | poetic | The music was enchanting and calming. |
| endemic | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | Malaria is endemic in that region. |
| endless | adj — Oxford | neutral | The road seemed endless in the fog. |
| endangered | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | Many species are endangered worldwide. |
| endearing | adj — Oxford | neutral | Her clumsy smile was endearing to everyone. |
| enduring | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | They formed an enduring friendship. |
| energetic | adj — Oxford | neutral | The children were energetic after recess. |
| engaged | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | She seemed engaged in the discussion. |
| engaging | adj — Oxford | neutral | That novel is engaging from the first chapter. |
| enigmatic | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | His smile was enigmatic and quiet. |
| enjoyable | adj — Oxford | neutral | The concert was enjoyable for the whole family. |
| enormous | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | They built an enormous new stadium. |
| enlightened | adj — Oxford | formal | The program promoted enlightened public debate. |
| enraged | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The news left him visibly enraged. |
| enriching | adj — Oxford | neutral | Travel can be an enriching experience. |
| enslaved | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | Historically, many communities were enslaved by empires. |
| enterprising | adj — Oxford | neutral | She launched an enterprising new startup. |
| entertaining | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The comedian gave an entertaining show. |
| enthusiastic | adj — Oxford | neutral | He was enthusiastic about the new idea. |
| entire | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | She read the entire book in one day. |
| entitled | adj — Oxford | neutral | He felt entitled to special treatment. |
| entangled | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The kite got entangled in the tree branches. |
| entrepreneurial | adj — Oxford | technical | She has an entrepreneurial approach to opportunities. |
| environmental | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | They assessed environmental impacts of the project. |
| epic | adj — Oxford | informal | That was an epic performance last night. |
| ephemeral | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | The beauty of the sunset was ephemeral. |
| epidemic | adj — Oxford | technical | An epidemic outbreak affected the region quickly. |
| epistemic | adj — Merriam-Webster | technical | They examined the epistemic limits of knowledge. |
| equal | adj — Oxford | neutral | All members should have equal rights. |
| equitable | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | They sought an equitable solution for all parties. |
| equivalent | adj — Oxford | neutral | Ten dollars is roughly equivalent to eight euros. |
| equivocal | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | His answer was deliberately equivocal and vague. |
| erotic | adj — Oxford | neutral | The novel contains erotic scenes. |
| erratic | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | Her driving was erratic in the storm. |
| erroneous | adj — Oxford | formal | His conclusion was based on erroneous data. |
| erstwhile | adj — Oxford | archaic | Her erstwhile friend had moved away. |
| essential | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | Water is essential for life. |
| estimable | adj — Oxford | formal | He was an estimable figure in the community. |
| eternal | adj — Merriam-Webster | poetic | They promised eternal love to each other. |
| ethical | adj — Oxford | formal | The company follows strict ethical guidelines. |
| ethnic | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The festival celebrated ethnic music and food. |
| euphoric | adj — Oxford | neutral | She felt euphoric after the good news. |
| euphemistic | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | He used euphemistic language to soften the message. |
| even | adj — Oxford | neutral | The surface must be even before painting. |
| eventful | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | It was an eventful year for the company. |
| eventual | adj — Oxford | formal | Their eventual decision surprised everyone. |
| evergreen | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | Pines and firs are evergreen trees. |
| everlasting | adj — Oxford | poetic | They sought an everlasting peace. |
| evident | adj — Merriam-Webster | neutral | The problem was evident from the start. |
| evil | adj — Oxford | neutral | He warned about evil influences in the book. |
| evolving | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | Their strategy is evolving with new data. |
| exact | adj — Oxford | neutral | They needed the exact measurements. |
| exacting | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | She has exacting standards for her work. |
| exaggerated | adj — Oxford | neutral | His stories felt exaggerated but entertaining. |
| exalted | adj — Merriam-Webster | poetic | She held an exalted position in the court. |
| exhausted | adj — Oxford | neutral | After the run he felt completely exhausted. |
| exhaustive | adj — Merriam-Webster | formal | They conducted an exhaustive review of the files. |
Descriptions
eager
Keen and impatient for something to happen; often used about people wanting action or news.
early
Occurring or done before the usual or expected time; can describe part of a period or stage.
earnest
Serious, sincere, and determined in intention or expression; often suggests depth of feeling.
earthly
Relating to the physical world or human life, not the spiritual or heavenly.
easy
Simple or not difficult; also relaxed or unhurried in some contexts.
eccentric
Unconventional or slightly strange in behavior or appearance; not necessarily negative.
eclectic
Made up of elements from a variety of sources or styles.
economic
Relating to the economy, finance, or production, often at national or social level.
economical
Providing good value or low cost; efficient in use of resources.
edible
Safe to eat; sometimes used figuratively for acceptable standards.
educated
Having received schooling or knowledge; suggests formal learning or informed opinions.
educational
Intended to teach or provide knowledge; related to education.
effervescent
Bubbly and lively, often used about liquids or vivacious people.
effective
Producing the intended result; successful in bringing about an outcome.
efficient
Working well with minimal waste of time or resources.
effusive
Expressing feelings of gratitude or praise in an unrestrained or excessive way.
egregious
Outstandingly bad or shocking; used for serious errors or offenses.
elaborate
Marked by complexity and detail; carefully planned or decorated.
elastic
Able to stretch and return to original shape; used literally and figuratively.
elder
Older or higher in rank; often used before a noun to compare age.
elderly
Polite term for older people, usually implying advanced age.
electric
Powered by electricity or producing strong emotional excitement.
electrical
Relating specifically to electricity or devices using electricity.
electrified
Charged with electricity or excitement; can be literal or figurative.
electronic
Relating to devices or systems that use electronics.
elegant
Graceful, stylish, and tasteful in appearance or manner.
elemental
Fundamental or basic; related to primary natural elements.
elementary
Simple, basic, or introductory; often used for primary education.
elevated
Raised in level or mood; can mean noble or higher in status.
eligible
Qualified or entitled to be chosen or to receive something.
elitist
Favoring or associated with a privileged elite; often critical.
elusive
Hard to find, catch, or understand; often used for abstract concepts.
embattled
Under attack or facing difficulties; used figuratively beyond warfare.
embarrassed
Uncomfortable or ashamed due to a social mistake or awkwardness.
embarrassing
Causing shame or awkwardness; often describes situations or actions.
embryonic
In an early or undeveloped stage; often used metaphorically.
eminent
Highly respected and distinguished in a field.
emotional
Relating to feelings; can mean sensitive or affecting strong feelings.
emotive
Able to arouse emotions; often used in rhetoric or criticism.
empirical
Based on observation or experiment rather than theory alone.
empowering
Giving someone confidence, authority, or power; often used in social contexts.
empty
Containing nothing; can be literal or used for hollow or meaningless.
enchanted
Magically charmed or delightful; often used in storytelling.
enchanting
Delightfully charming or captivating; suggests magic or deep attraction.
endemic
Regularly found among particular people or in a certain area; often medical/biological.
endless
Having no end or seeming to go on forever; can be literal or hyperbolic.
endangered
At serious risk of extinction or disappearing; used for species or cultures.
endearing
Arousing affection; charming in a way that elicits warmth.
enduring
Lasting over a long time; resilient or durable.
energetic
Full of energy and activity; lively.
engaged
Occupied or involved; also means pledged to marry in different contexts.
engaging
Attractive and interesting; draws attention or involvement.
enigmatic
Mysterious and difficult to interpret or understand.
enjoyable
Providing pleasure or satisfaction; pleasant.
enormous
Extremely large in size, amount, or degree.
enlightened
Having or showing rational, informed, and progressive views.
enraged
Very angry; used about intense anger.
enriching
Improving or enhancing quality, knowledge, or life experiences.
enslaved
Made a slave or kept in bondage; used historically or metaphorically.
enterprising
Willing to take initiative and risks; resourcefully entrepreneurial.
entertaining
Providing amusement or enjoyment.
enthusiastic
Showing intense and eager enjoyment or interest.
entire
Whole or complete; with nothing left out.
entitled
Having a right or claim to something; can suggest unjustified privilege.
entangled
Caught up or twisted together, often causing difficulty.
entrepreneurial
Relating to starting businesses or taking business risks; innovative and initiative-taking.
environmental
Relating to the natural world and human interactions with it.
epic
Grand in scale or heroic; often used informally for impressive things.
ephemeral
Lasting for a very short time; fleeting.
epidemic
Widespread occurrence of a disease or phenomenon within a community.
epistemic
Relating to knowledge or the study of knowledge; philosophical/technical use.
equal
Sameness in quantity, status, or value; fair and balanced.
equitable
Fair and just, particularly in terms of treatment or distribution.
equivalent
Having the same value, function, or meaning.
equivocal
Open to more than one interpretation; ambiguous or uncertain.
erotic
Relating to sexual desire or arousal; used in art and literature.
erratic
Irregular or unpredictable in behavior or performance.
erroneous
Incorrect or mistaken; often used in formal critique.
erstwhile
Former or previous; literary or somewhat old-fashioned.
essential
Absolutely necessary or extremely important.
estimable
Worthy of respect or admiration; can also mean calculable.
eternal
Lasting forever or for a very long time; timeless.
ethical
Relating to moral principles and appropriate conduct.
ethnic
Relating to a particular cultural or racial group.
euphoric
Extremely happy or elated; intense joy.
euphemistic
Using mild or indirect expressions to avoid bluntness or offense.
even
Level, flat, or equal; also used for fairness or continuity.
eventful
Full of notable or important events.
eventual
Happening at the end of a process or after a period.
evergreen
Remaining fresh, relevant, or popular over a long time.
everlasting
Lasting forever or for a very long duration.
evident
Clearly visible or understood; obvious.
evil
Morally wrong or harmful; often used in moral or religious contexts.
evolving
Gradually developing or changing over time.
exact
Precise and accurate; strictly correct.
exacting
Demanding perfection or great attention to detail.
exaggerated
Overstated or made to seem larger, better, or worse than reality.
exalted
Lofty, elevated in rank, or highly praised.
exhausted
Extremely tired or depleted of energy.
exhaustive
Thorough and comprehensive; leaving nothing out.