Giddy

So excited or delighted that calm judgment briefly gives way.

Reach for it when describing buoyant excitement with a playful hint of lost composure

The cast felt giddy when the audience called them back for a third bow.

• playful

  delirious

  hyperbole suits overwhelming delight

  not when Delirious also describes serious confusion or illness and is unsafe in literal health contexts.

• everyday

  lightheaded

  physical dizziness is genuinely part of the experience

  not when Lightheaded names a bodily symptom and may erase the happy cause.

• warm

  elated

  intense happiness matters without any loss of dignity

  not when Elated is controlled enough for formal praise and misses giddy's silliness.

• warm

  jubilant

  triumphant celebration follows a clear success

  not when Jubilant is grander and more public than private giddiness.

• professional

  euphoric

  the high is unusually intense and enveloping

  not when Euphoric can imply an altered state or clinical mood beyond ordinary excitement.

• professional

  excitable

  a person reacts quickly and strongly to stimulation

  not when Excitable can sound critical and describes temperament rather than one happy moment.

• literary

  buoyant

  light, resilient cheer is the quality to praise

  not when Buoyant stays composed and does not suggest excited dizziness.

• sober
• composed
• downcast

• giddy with excitement

  The finalists were giddy with excitement before the announcement.

• giddy delight

  Giddy delight spread through the class when the chicks hatched.

• feel giddy

  I feel giddy whenever the orchestra reaches that bright final chord.

Giddy can also mean physically dizzy. In health or safety writing, name that symptom directly.