feverish
gb/fˈivɚɪʃ/ us/fˈivɚɪʃ/
A2
English
~ 6800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
state
1
having a fever or like a fever
Feeling hot and weak because your body temperature is too high from being sick.
Usage pattern:
feverish [person/body part]; [someone] feels feverish
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *“I am fever”* instead of *“I have a fever”* or *“I feel feverish.”* Use *“have a fever”* as a noun, or *“feel feverish”* as an adjective to describe the sick feeling.
Synonyms
fevered (Very close in meaning; sounds slightly more literary or dramatic than everyday 'feverish'.)
|
febrile (Technical medical term used mainly in clinical or formal contexts, not in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
normal (Describes body temperature that is not too high.)
|
afebrile (Medical term meaning ‘without fever’; opposite in clinical descriptions.)
Collocations
feel feverish
|look feverish
|feverish child
|feverish forehead
|feverish symptoms
|slightly feverish
Themes
health
|medicine
|daily life
|body
Examples
- She felt feverish and dizzy, so she stayed home from work.
- The doctor touched his feverish forehead and ordered some tests.
- After two days of feeling feverish, he finally went to the clinic.
- The child grew pale and feverish during the night.
- His skin was hot and feverish to the touch.
Learner examples
- I feel feverish and very tired today.
- The baby is crying and seems feverish.
- Your hands are cold, but your face is feverish.
- She went to bed early because she was feverish.
- If you feel feverish, you should drink a lot of water.
adjective
B2
property
2
very busy, excited, and hurried
Very busy and excited, moving or working quickly, often because there is not much time.
Usage pattern:
feverish [activity/preparations/pace/excitement]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning always refers to illness, but here it is figurative and describes busy, excited, or rushed activity, not actual body temperature.
Synonyms
frantic (Implies very high, sometimes panicked activity or worry; often a bit stronger and more emotional than 'feverish'.)
|
hectic (Focuses on being very busy and rushed; less emotional and dramatic than 'feverish'.)
Antonyms
calm (Describes an atmosphere or activity that is relaxed and not excited or rushed.)
|
unhurried (Highlights doing things slowly and without pressure, the opposite of a 'feverish' pace.)
Collocations
feverish activity
|feverish preparations
|feverish pace
|feverish excitement
|feverish search
|feverish speculation
Themes
work
|emotions
|time
|news
Examples
- There was a feverish activity in the office as the deadline approached.
- They made feverish preparations for the product launch.
- Traders reacted with feverish excitement to the unexpected news.
- Reporters worked at a feverish pace to file their stories on time.
- Online forums were full of feverish speculation about the merger.
Learner examples
- The team worked at a feverish pace all day.
- There was feverish activity in the kitchen before the party.
- He checked his phone in a feverish search for answers.
- Fans waited in feverish excitement for the band to appear.
- People were busy in feverish preparations for the festival.
adjective
literary
C1
state
3
mentally restless and overexcited
Feeling very excited, worried, or strange in your mind, so that you cannot feel calm or think clearly.
Usage pattern:
feverish [mind/imagination/dreams/state]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with only physical illness. In this literary sense, 'feverish' describes the mind or emotions being very restless or disturbed, even if the person does not actually have a fever.
Synonyms
agitated (Stresses being upset and unable to relax; less intense or vivid than 'feverish'.)
|
restless (Focuses on being unable to relax or stay still; not always as emotionally intense as 'feverish'.)
Antonyms
tranquil (Suggests a peaceful and calm mental or emotional state.)
|
composed (Emphasizes emotional self-control, the opposite of a feverish, disturbed state.)
Collocations
feverish mind
|feverish imagination
|feverish dreams
|feverish state
|feverish thoughts
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|literature
|health
Examples
- He lay awake all night, caught in feverish dreams and half-formed fears.
- Her mind was filled with feverish thoughts about the future.
- In a feverish state of anxiety, she checked the door again and again.
- The writer’s feverish imagination produced strange and vivid images.
- After the shocking news, his sleep was broken and feverish.
Learner examples
- He had feverish dreams after the accident.
- Her feverish imagination made her see danger everywhere.
- I tried to rest, but my thoughts were feverish and confused.
- The movie shows the hero’s feverish mind before the fight.
- She wrote the story in a feverish state late at night.
Grammar
Dictionary form
feverish
IPA
GB/fˈivɚɪʃ/
US/fˈivɚɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
fe - ver - ish (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fe)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: feverish
Word family
Core family
fever
noun A2
feverishly
adverb B2
Related words
feverishness
noun
fevered
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
afebrile
adjective
Advanced or less common
febrile
adjective
Expressions
feverish activity
1/fˈivɚɪʃ æktˈɪvɪti/
fixed phrase
very intense, hurried activity
Very busy and fast activity, often because there is pressure or little time.
Examples
- There was feverish activity in the newsroom after the story broke.
- The kitchen was full of feverish activity before the guests arrived.
feverish excitement
1/fˈivɚɪʃ ɪksˈaɪtmənt/
fixed phrase
very strong, uncontrolled excitement
A very high level of excitement when people are too excited to stay calm.
Examples
- The crowd waited in feverish excitement for the singer to appear.
- There was feverish excitement online after the announcement.
feverish preparations
1/fˈivɚɪʃ pɹˌɛpɚˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
very rushed, intense preparations
Very busy and fast work to get ready for something important.
Examples
- They made feverish preparations for the wedding all week.
- The city is in feverish preparations for the international summit.