adrenaline
uh-DREH-nuh-lihn
Adrenaline (noun) means a hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy. Example: “Her heart raced as adrenaline kicked in before the race.”
noun
1
A hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy.
"Her heart raced as adrenaline kicked in before the race."
"The rescue took a huge adrenaline rush."
2
A feeling of excitement or thrill.
"Skydivers chase the adrenaline of free fall."
"The crowd was buzzing with adrenaline before kickoff."
How to use adrenaline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe "fight or flight" hormone, or more casually, the rush of excitement it causes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
adrenaline rush
pumped with adrenaline
adrenaline junkie
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Word forms
- Plural
- adrenalines
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her heart raced as _____ kicked in before the race.
Etymology
Coined in 1901 by the Japanese chemist Jokichi Takamine from adrenal + -ine.
Class of 1901
adrenaline joined the language around 1901.
See the full Class of 1901 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for adrenaline
See all rhymes for adrenaline →Frequently asked questions
What does “adrenaline” mean?
The word “adrenaline” means a hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy. In plain terms, the "fight or flight" hormone, or more casually, the rush of excitement it causes.
How do you pronounce “adrenaline”?
“Adrenaline” is pronounced uh-DREH-nuh-lihn (/əˈdɹɛnəlɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “adrenaline” in a sentence?
Here is “adrenaline” used in a sentence: “Her heart raced as adrenaline kicked in before the race.”
What part of speech is “adrenaline”?
“Adrenaline” is a noun.
Where does the word “adrenaline” come from?
The word “adrenaline” dates back to around 1901 and comes from Japanese. Coined in 1901 by the Japanese chemist Jokichi Takamine from adrenal + -ine.
Is “adrenaline” a common word?
“Adrenaline” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “adrenaline” have?
“Adrenaline” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hormone released in response to stress or excitement that speeds up the heart and boosts energy.
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