fever
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for fever, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use fever
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fefer and Old French fievre, both from Latin febris, from a very old root meaning "to burn."
Full origin of fever →Frequently asked questions
What does “fever” mean?
The word “fever” means a body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness. In plain terms, a raised body temperature from illness, or a figurative state of high excitement.
How do you pronounce “fever”?
“Fever” is pronounced FEE-vuh (/ˈfivɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fever” in a sentence?
Here is “fever” used in a sentence: “She stayed home from school with a high fever.”
What part of speech is “fever”?
“Fever” is a noun.
Where does the word “fever” come from?
The word “fever” comes from Latin. From Old English fefer and Old French fievre, both from Latin febris, from a very old root meaning "to burn.".
Is “fever” a common word?
“Fever” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “fever” have?
“Fever” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a body temperature higher than normal, usually caused by illness.
What is the difference between a fever and a high temperature?
The two overlap closely: a fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal, usually caused by illness, so having a fever means having a raised temperature. 'High temperature' is simply a plainer way of describing the same condition.
What is the difference between 'fever' and 'feverish'?
'Fever' is a noun naming the raised body temperature or a state of intense excitement. 'Feverish' is the adjective, describing a person who has a fever or an activity marked by restless, agitated energy, as in 'feverish preparations'.
Can 'fever' describe excitement rather than illness?
Yes. Besides the medical sense, 'fever' names a state of intense excitement or agitation, as in 'election fever' or 'the crowd was in a fever of anticipation'. Here it points to heightened emotion rather than body heat.
What verbs commonly go with 'fever'?
Common collocations include 'run a fever' and 'have a fever' for developing one, and 'break a fever' for when it subsides. You might also 'spike a fever' when the temperature rises suddenly.