adverb
C2
Proficient
hysterically
Hysterically (adverb) means In an uncontrollably emotional way. Example: “She was crying hysterically after the accident.”
adverb
1
In an uncontrollably emotional way.
"She was crying hysterically after the accident."
2
Informal: to the point of intense laughter.
"The whole audience was laughing hysterically."
How to use hysterically
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a state of extreme emotion" or "so hard you can't stop laughing."
Common pairings
laughing hysterically
crying hysterically
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more hysterically
- Superlative
- most hysterically
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was crying _____ after the accident.
Etymology
From hysterical + -ly.
Rhymes for hysterically
See all rhymes for hysterically →Frequently asked questions
What does “hysterically” mean?
The word “hysterically” means in an uncontrollably emotional way. In plain terms, either "in a state of extreme emotion" or "so hard you can't stop laughing.".
How do you use “hysterically” in a sentence?
Here is “hysterically” used in a sentence: “She was crying hysterically after the accident.”
What part of speech is “hysterically”?
“Hysterically” is an adverb.
How many meanings does “hysterically” have?
“Hysterically” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in an uncontrollably emotional way.
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