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Prepositions after verbs

Excite about, by, for, at or in?

Excite is usually used as excite someone or in the adjective form excited about or excited by. Some combinations are standard, while others are uncommon or nonstandard.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with excite?

The verb excite is usually transitive: something excites someone. The adjective excited is commonly followed by about for topics and by for causes or things that create excitement. Excited for is common in informal English before events or future situations. Excite at and excite in are generally not standard patterns.

The news excited the whole team.
She is excited about the new project.
We were excited by the results.
He is excited for the concert tomorrow.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
excite + person

Causing someone to feel enthusiasm

Use excite as a transitive verb with a direct object.

The announcement excited investors.
The idea excited the students.
2
excited about + topic

Talking about something that interests you

Use excited about for subjects, plans, and general situations.

She is excited about her new job.
They were excited about the trip.
3
excited by + cause

Naming what creates the feeling

Use excited by for something that directly causes excitement, surprise, or strong interest.

The scientists were excited by the discovery.
I was excited by the possibilities.
4
excited for + future event

Looking forward to something

In informal English, especially in North America, excited for is common before future events or experiences.

We are excited for the weekend.
She is excited for her graduation ceremony.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
excited about
I'm excited about the new course.
Standard for topics, plans, and situations.
excited by
The audience was excited by the performance.
Standard for the thing causing excitement.
excited for
They're excited for the holiday.
Common informal pattern for future events or experiences.
excite at
Nonstandard: She was excited at the idea.
Modern English usually prefers excited about or excited by here.
excite in
Nonstandard: He is excited in the project.
Do not use in after excited for topics or projects. Use about instead.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using excite without an object

The verb excite normally needs a person or group as its object.

✕ The game excited. ✓ The game excited the children.

Using in after excited

Use about for interests and projects.

✕ She is excited in her new role. ✓ She is excited about her new role.

Confusing about and by

About focuses on the topic. By focuses on the cause or influence.

✕ We were excited about the loud reaction from the crowd. ✓ We were excited by the loud reaction from the crowd.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The documentary excited ___ viewers around the world.
2. I am excited ___ our summer trip.
3. The children were excited ___ the fireworks display.

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Frequently asked questions

Is excited for correct English?

Yes. It is common in informal English when talking about future events or experiences.

What is the difference between excited about and excited by?

Excited about usually refers to a topic or plan, while excited by emphasizes the thing that causes the feeling.

Can excite be used without a direct object?

Usually no. The verb excite normally takes an object, such as a person or group.

earmark-for-by-as-about, at "earn from", "earn by" or "earn in"? "ease into", "ease by" or "ease in"? "eat at", "eat with" or "eat in"? "echo in" or "echo by"? edit by, for, in, to or from? "educate in" or "educate at"? eject from, at, in, into or by? elaborate on, in, upon, by or about? "elect to" or "elect by"? elevate to, in, above, by or as? "eliminate from", "eliminate in" or "eliminate by"?

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