frenzy
gb/fɹˈɛnzi/ us/fɹˈɛnzi/
B2
English
~ 7700
őrjöngés, eszeveszett kapkodás, őrület, felhajtás, láz, őrjöngésbe kerget, felhergel, megvadít
NOUN
B2
1
őrjöngés
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is in a frenzy
The fans were in a frenzy as the band walked onto the stage.
A rajongók őrjöngtek, amikor a zenekar felment a színpadra.
She cleaned the entire house in a frenzy before her guests arrived.
Eszeveszett tempóban kitakarította az egész házat, mielőtt megérkeztek a vendégei.
News of the scandal sent the office into a frenzy.
He worked himself into a frenzy of worry before the interview.
The dogs were in a frenzy when they heard the doorbell.
Learner examples
The crowd was in a frenzy after the winning goal.
A tömeg őrjöngött a győztes gól után.
She ran around in a frenzy, looking for her keys.
Eszeveszetten rohangált, és a kulcsait kereste.
The phone calls put the small team into a frenzy.
He shouted in a frenzy when he saw the fire.
The children were in a frenzy on the last day of school.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "frenzy" as an adjective (e.g., "a frenzy crowd"). The correct adjective is "frenzied," as in "a frenzied crowd." Learners may also forget the article and say "in frenzy" instead of the natural phrase "in a frenzy."
Meaning
Wild uncontrolled excitement or activity
Collocations
in a frenzy
|a frenzy of activity
|worked herself into a frenzy
|threw the crowd into a frenzy
|whipped into a frenzy
|a killing frenzy
Synonyms
mania (Suggests extreme excitement or obsession, sometimes over a period of time, and can sound slightly more clinical.)
|
hysteria (Adds a sense of panic or irrational emotion, often used for crowds or the public.)
|
fury (Focuses more on intense anger than on excited activity in general.)
|
agitation (Suggests being upset and unable to stay calm, but is usually less intense than a frenzy.)
Antonyms
calm (Describes a peaceful, controlled state without wild emotion or activity.)
|
composure (Emphasizes self-control and steadiness instead of loss of control.)
|
order (Highlights organized, controlled behavior instead of chaotic, wild activity.)
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|social_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A state of very strong excitement or activity when people are not calm or controlled.
A state in which a person or group behaves in a wildly excited, uncontrolled, or hyperactive way, often driven by strong emotion.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a [type] frenzy over [something]
The celebrity divorce created a media frenzy for several weeks.
A híresség válása több hétig tartó médiaőrületet váltott ki.
Rumors of a shortage sparked a buying frenzy at the supermarket.
Az áruhiányról szóló pletykák vásárlási rohamot indítottak el a szupermarketben.
Online traders joined a frenzy of speculation over the new stock.
Holiday sales often lead to a shopping frenzy on the first day.
The announcement set off a frenzy of ticket sales.
Learner examples
The news story started a media frenzy.
A hír médiaőrületet indított el.
There was a buying frenzy when the phones went on sale.
Vásárlási láz tört ki, amikor forgalomba kerültek a telefonok.
The sale caused a shopping frenzy in the mall.
The low price created a frenzy of orders.
The video went viral and caused a frenzy online.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with a long-lasting fashion or "trend." A "frenzy" is usually short and very intense, not a slow, long-term change.
Meaning
Short burst of intense activity
Collocations
media frenzy
|buying frenzy
|shopping frenzy
|a frenzy of speculation
|trigger a frenzy
|spark a frenzy
Synonyms
rush (Often used for many people quickly going to buy or get something, with slightly less emotional charge than "frenzy.")
|
flurry (Suggests a short, busy period of activity, usually sounding lighter and less chaotic than a frenzy.)
|
craze (Describes very popular behavior or fashion; less about speed and more about popularity.)
Antonyms
lull (A quiet period with very little activity, the opposite of an intense burst of action.)
|
slowdown (A period when activity reduces instead of suddenly increasing.)
Themes
business
|media
|social_life
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A short time when many people quickly do the same thing, like buying or talking about something a lot.
A short, intense period during which many people or organizations are extremely active, especially in buying, selling, or paying attention to something.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
[something] frenzies [someone]
The cruel joke only frenzied the already angry crowd.
A kegyetlen tréfa csak még jobban felhergelte az amúgy is dühös tömeget.
Rumors of betrayal frenzied the soldiers before the battle.
Az árulásról szóló pletykák a csata előtt őrjöngésbe kergették a katonákat.
The sudden noise frenzied the horses, and they pulled against their ropes.
Learner examples
The loud music frenzied the fans in the small club.
A hangos zene őrjöngésbe kergette a rajongókat a kis klubban.
The hot sun and lack of water frenzied the tired animals.
A forró nap és a vízhiány megvadította a fáradt állatokat.
The speech frenzied the group, and they shouted loudly.
Common mistake:
In modern English, speakers almost never use "frenzy" as a verb in everyday conversation. Learners sometimes try to say things like "It frenzied me" instead of more natural verbs such as "it drove me crazy" or "it made me panic."
Meaning
To drive into a frenzy
Collocations
frenzied by pain
|frenzied by fear
|frenzied by the crowd
Synonyms
agitate (Means to make someone nervous or upset; usually less extreme and more formal than "frenzy.")
|
inflame (Often used about stirring up strong feelings like anger or hatred; can be similar in intensity to "frenzy" but does not always imply total loss of control.)
Antonyms
calm (Means to make someone more quiet and relaxed, the opposite of driving them into a wild state.)
|
soothe (Emphasizes gently reducing strong or painful feelings instead of increasing them.)
Themes
emotions
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To cause someone to go into a wild and very excited state, without calm or control.
To make a person or group behave in a wild, uncontrolled, or violently excited way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
frenzy
IPA
GB/fɹˈɛnzi/
US/fɹˈɛnzi/
Syllables & stress
frenzy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (frenzy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: frenzy
- Plural: frenzies, frenzy
Word family
Forms
frenzies
noun
Core family
frenzied
adjective
Related words
frenziedly
adverb
Advanced or less common
frenetic
adjective
Expressions
a frenzy of activity
1/ə fɹˈɛnzi əv æktˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
Short time of very busy activity
A short time when people do many things very quickly and with a lot of energy.
Examples
- There was a frenzy of activity in the kitchen before the guests arrived.
- The last week before the launch was a frenzy of activity.
- After months of delay, the project suddenly entered a frenzy of activity.
buying frenzy
1/bˈaɪɪŋ fɹˈɛnzi/
fixed phrase
Short burst of mass buying
A short time when many people suddenly buy a lot of one thing very quickly.
Examples
- News of the price rise led to a buying frenzy at the gas stations.
- Investors went into a buying frenzy after the positive report.
- The rumor of shortages triggered a buying frenzy in local shops.
feeding frenzy
1/fˈidɪŋ fɹˈɛnzi/
idiom
Intense competitive rush for something
A short time when many animals or people try very hard and very fast to get the same thing, often in a wild or aggressive way.
Examples
- The fish went into a feeding frenzy when the food hit the water.
- The scandal started a media feeding frenzy around the politician.
- Online buyers created a feeding frenzy over the limited-edition shoes.
in a frenzy
1/ˈɪn ə fɹˈɛnzi/
fixed phrase
In a wild excited state
Very excited, angry, or active, and not calm or controlled.
Examples
- The office was in a frenzy as the deadline approached.
- She ran from room to room in a frenzy looking for her passport.
- The children were in a frenzy after eating so much sugar.
media frenzy
1/mˈidiə fɹˈɛnzi/
fixed phrase
Burst of intense media attention
A short time when TV, newspapers, and websites talk about one story or person all the time.
Examples
- The surprise wedding sparked a media frenzy.
- After the arrest, the company faced a media frenzy.
- The small town was not ready for the media frenzy that followed the discovery.
send someone into a frenzy
1/sˈɛnd sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪntu ə fɹˈɛnzi/
idiom
Cause wild excitement or panic
To make a person or group suddenly become very wild, excited, or active.
Examples
- The winning goal sent the fans into a frenzy.
- The sudden announcement sent the markets into a frenzy.
- The price cut sent customers into a frenzy at the electronics store.
shopping frenzy
1/ʃˈɑpɪŋ fɹˈɛnzi/
fixed phrase
Short period of wild shopping
A short time when many people buy a lot of things very fast and with strong excitement.
Examples
- Black Friday often turns into a shopping frenzy.
- The new game release caused a shopping frenzy among teenagers.
- There was a brief shopping frenzy when the store opened its doors.
spark a frenzy
1/spˈɑɹk ə fɹˈɛnzi/
fixed phrase
Start a burst of intense activity
To cause a short time of very strong activity or excitement to begin.
Examples
- The tweet sparked a frenzy of online comments.
- The discount sparked a frenzy among bargain hunters.
- Rumors of layoffs sparked a frenzy of speculation inside the company.
whip someone into a frenzy
1/wˈɪp sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪntu ə fɹˈɛnzi/
idiom
Make people wildly excited
To make a person or group very wild and excited so that they are not calm or controlled.
Examples
- The singer whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his final song.
- The coach's speech whipped the team into a frenzy before the game.
- The dramatic headlines whipped investors into a frenzy.
work oneself into a frenzy
1/wˈɚk wˌʌnsˈɛlf ˈɪntu ə fɹˈɛnzi/
idiom
Make yourself extremely upset or excited
To make yourself very upset or excited by thinking too much or talking too much about something.
Examples
- She worked herself into a frenzy worrying about her exam.
- Do not work yourself into a frenzy over one small mistake.
- He worked himself into a frenzy thinking about what might go wrong.