noun C1 Advanced

tantrum

TAN-truhm

Tantrum (noun) means a sudden outburst of bad temper, especially a childish one. Example: “The toddler threw a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket.”

noun

A sudden outburst of bad temper, especially a childish one.

"The toddler threw a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket."

"He stormed off in a tantrum when he didn't get his way."

How to use tantrum

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fit of anger or frustration, often associated with children but also used of adults acting childishly.

Common pairings

throw a tantrum temper tantrum

Word forms

tantrummed past tense, tantrumed past tense, tantrums plural, tantrums singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tantrum” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The toddler threw a _____ in the middle of the supermarket.

Etymology

First recorded as "tanterum"; its earlier origins are unknown.

Synonyms

View more →

scene fit conniption

Related words

go able meet view beautiful picture match scene

Frequently asked questions

What does “tantrum” mean?

The word “tantrum” means a sudden outburst of bad temper, especially a childish one. In plain terms, a fit of anger or frustration, often associated with children but also used of adults acting childishly.

How do you pronounce “tantrum”?

“Tantrum” is pronounced TAN-truhm (/ˈtæn.tɹəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “tantrum” in a sentence?

Here is “tantrum” used in a sentence: “The toddler threw a tantrum in the middle of the supermarket.”

What part of speech is “tantrum”?

“Tantrum” is a noun.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include tantrum:

C1 vocabulary words

People also searched

go able meet view beautiful picture match scene