frenzy

UK: /ˈfrɛnzi/ US: /ˈfrɛnzi/ ,(fren′zē)

Inflections of 'frenzy' (n): npl: frenzies

Inflections of 'frenzy' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

frenzies

v 3rd person singular

frenzying

v pres p

frenzied

v past

frenzied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fren•zy /ˈfrɛnzi/   n., pl. -zies. 

1. extreme mental agitation;
   wild or violent excitement:
   [countable] In a sudden frenzy he hurled the chair through the window.
2. agitated or uncontrollable activity:
   [uncountable] the frenzy of the mob.
   [countable* usually singular]
   in a frenzy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fren•zy  (fren′zē), n., pl. -zies, v., -zied, -zy•ing. 
n. 

1. extreme mental agitation;
   wild excitement or derangement.
2. a fit or spell of violent mental excitement;
   a paroxysm characteristic of or resulting from a mania:
   He is subject to these frenzies several times a year.

v.t. 

3. to drive to frenzy;
   make frantic:
   She was frenzied by fear when she smelled the smoke.

• Late Greek, for Greek phrenîtis; see phrenitis
• Late Latin phrenēsis
• Old French
• Middle English frenesie 1300–50

fren′zi•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. madness, insanity, lunacy, aberration; rage, fury, raving.

Antonyms

• 1. calm.
• 2. sanity.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

frenzy / ˈfrɛnzɪ/ noun ( -zies)

1. violent mental derangement
2. wild excitement or agitation; distraction
3. a bout of wild or agitated activity: a frenzy of preparations

verb ( -zies, -zying, -zied)

1. (transitive) to make frantic; drive into a frenzy

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French frenesie, from Late Latin phrēnēsis madness, delirium, from Late Greek, ultimately from Greek phrēn mind; compare frenetic