adjective
Uncommon
hectic
HEHK-tihk
Hectic (adjective) means Extremely busy, rushed, and full of activity, often to a stressful degree. Example: “Mornings in our house are hectic — three kids, two dogs, and one bathroom.”
adjective
1
Extremely busy, rushed, and full of activity, often to a stressful degree.
"Mornings in our house are hectic — three kids, two dogs, and one bathroom."
"It's been a hectic week at work with the product launch."
How to use hectic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo busy and full of activity that it feels chaotic or exhausting.
Common pairings
a hectic schedule
hectic pace
life got hectic
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Word forms
- Plural
- hectics
- Comparative
- more hectic
- Superlative
- most hectic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mornings in our house are _____ — three kids, two dogs, and one bathroom.
Etymology
Originally a medical term for a wasting fever that caused flushed cheeks, from Greek hektikos, "habitual" or "consumptive." Its modern sense of "frantically busy" developed much later, by association with the feverish, agitated feeling such an illness produced.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hectic
See all rhymes for hectic →Frequently asked questions
What does “hectic” mean?
The word “hectic” means extremely busy, rushed, and full of activity, often to a stressful degree. In plain terms, so busy and full of activity that it feels chaotic or exhausting.
How do you pronounce “hectic”?
“Hectic” is pronounced HEHK-tihk (/ˈhɛktɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “hectic” in a sentence?
Here is “hectic” used in a sentence: “Mornings in our house are hectic — three kids, two dogs, and one bathroom.”
What part of speech is “hectic”?
“Hectic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “hectic” come from?
The word “hectic” comes from Greek.
Is “hectic” a common word?
“Hectic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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