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Prepositions after verbs

How to use thrill with prepositions

Thrill can be followed by with, by, or at in different structures. To and about are less common and usually belong to another pattern.

Quick answer

Use thrill with and be thrilled by/at

Use thrill someone with something when describing what creates excitement. In passive forms, English often uses be thrilled by something or be thrilled at/about something. Thrill to exists but is literary and often means react excitedly to something.

The show thrilled the audience with its visuals.
We were thrilled by the news.
She was thrilled at the opportunity.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
thrill + person + with + thing

Causing excitement with something

Use with to introduce what creates excitement.

The magician thrilled the crowd with his performance.
2
be thrilled by + noun

Reacting to something exciting

Use by in passive structures to show the cause of excitement.

They were thrilled by the result.
3
be thrilled at/about + noun

Feeling delighted about news or events

At and about are common after thrilled in adjective-like use.

I was thrilled about the promotion.
4
thrill to + noun

Literary reaction to excitement

Thrill to can appear in literary or formal style meaning respond excitedly.

Fans thrilled to the sound of the orchestra.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
thrill with
The speaker thrilled listeners with her story.
Standard active structure.
thrilled by
We were thrilled by the announcement.
Standard passive structure.
thrilled at/about
She was thrilled at the chance to travel.
Delighted about something.
thrill to
Readers thrilled to tales of adventure.
Literary or formal reaction to excitement.
thrill about
Less natural: They thrilled about the idea.
About is more natural after thrilled than after the verb thrill.

Common mistakes

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

Using about directly after thrill

About is usually used after thrilled, not directly after thrill.

✕ The news thrilled about everyone. ✓ The news thrilled everyone.

Confusing active and passive patterns

Use with in active sentences and by in passive ones.

✕ We were thrilled with the fireworks by the show. ✓ We were thrilled by the fireworks.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The film thrilled audiences ___ its special effects.
2. I was thrilled ___ the invitation.
3. She was thrilled ___ the opportunity to study abroad.

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Frequently asked questions

Is thrill to correct?

Yes, but it sounds literary or formal in modern English.

Should I use by or with after thrilled?

After thrilled, by is usually more natural for the cause of excitement.

Can I say thrilled about?

Yes. Be thrilled about something is very common.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? target at, by, for, to or in? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "taste like", "taste of" or "taste in"?

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