furious
FYOOR-ree-uhs
Furious (adj) means Extremely angry. Example: “Dad was furious when he saw the dent in the car.”
adj
1
Extremely angry.
"Dad was furious when he saw the dent in the car."
"She was furious when she found out he'd read her diary."
"The customer became furious after being kept on hold for an hour."
2
Extremely fast, intense, or violent in action.
"The chef worked at a furious speed during the lunchtime rush."
"A furious storm battered the coast all night."
"The two teams played at a furious pace in the final minutes."
How to use furious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely angry, or (for actions) extremely intense and fast-paced.
Common pairings
furious pace
absolutely furious
furious row
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more furious
- Superlative
- most furious
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Dad was _____ when he saw the dent in the car.
Etymology
From Old French furieus, from Latin furiosus, related to furia ("rage").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for furious
See all rhymes for furious →Frequently asked questions
What does “furious” mean?
The word “furious” means extremely angry. In plain terms, extremely angry, or (for actions) extremely intense and fast-paced.
How do you pronounce “furious”?
“Furious” is pronounced FYOOR-ree-uhs (/ˈfjʊəɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “furious” in a sentence?
Here is “furious” used in a sentence: “She was furious when she found out he'd read her diary.”
What part of speech is “furious”?
“Furious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “furious” come from?
The word “furious” comes from Latin. From Old French furieus, from Latin furiosus, related to furia ("rage").
Is “furious” a common word?
“Furious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “furious” have?
“Furious” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely angry.
What is the difference between furious and angry?
Furious is a much stronger word than angry: it means extremely angry, often to the point of struggling to stay in control. If you are mildly irritated you are annoyed or angry; if you are enraged, you are furious.
Is it furious with or furious at?
Both are correct, but they pattern differently. People are usually furious with a person ('she was furious with her brother') and furious at or about a thing or situation ('furious at the delay', 'furious about the decision').
Can furious describe speed as well as anger?
Yes. Furious also means extremely fast, intense, or violent, as in 'a furious pace', 'furious fighting', or 'a furious storm'. Context makes clear whether the word refers to rage or to intensity.
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