adj
Uncommon
frantic
FRAN-tihk
Frantic (adj) means Wild with panic, worry, or urgency. Example: “She made a frantic search for her missing passport.”
adj
1
Wild with panic, worry, or urgency.
"She made a frantic search for her missing passport."
"His frantic phone calls finally got through to the ambulance service."
2
Extremely busy or hectic.
"The kitchen was frantic during the Saturday night rush."
How to use frantic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a state of panic or rushed, anxious activity.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
frantic search
frantic pace
frantic effort
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like frantic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- frantics
- Comparative
- more frantic
- Superlative
- most frantic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She made a _____ search for her missing passport.
Etymology
From Old French frenetique, ultimately from Greek phrenitis, "inflammation of the brain" — the word originally described actual madness before softening to mean panicked or rushed.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for frantic
See all rhymes for frantic →Frequently asked questions
What does “frantic” mean?
The word “frantic” means wild with panic, worry, or urgency. In plain terms, in a state of panic or rushed, anxious activity.
How do you pronounce “frantic”?
“Frantic” is pronounced FRAN-tihk (/ˈfɹæn.tɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “frantic” in a sentence?
Here is “frantic” used in a sentence: “She made a frantic search for her missing passport.”
What is another word for “frantic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “frantic” include frenetic and frenzied.
What part of speech is “frantic”?
“Frantic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “frantic” come from?
The word “frantic” comes from Old French. From Old French frenetique, ultimately from Greek phrenitis, "inflammation of the brain" — the word originally described actual madness before softening to mean panicked or rushed.
Is “frantic” a common word?
“Frantic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “frantic” have?
“Frantic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wild with panic, worry, or urgency.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include frantic:
