adverb C2 Proficient

hysterically

Hysterically (adverb) means In an uncontrollably emotional way. Example: “She was crying hysterically after the accident.”

adverb

In an uncontrollably emotional way.

"She was crying hysterically after the accident."

Informal: to the point of intense laughter.

"The whole audience was laughing hysterically."

How to use hysterically

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "in a state of extreme emotion" or "so hard you can't stop laughing."

Common pairings

laughing hysterically crying hysterically

Word forms

more hysterically comparative, most hysterically superlative

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She was crying _____ after the accident.

Etymology

From hysterical + -ly.

Rhymes for hysterically

ally bally sally Wally dally rally tally pally really locally usually equally

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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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