1
a
: a rise of body temperature above the normal
b
: any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
2
a
: a state of heightened or intense emotion or activity
b
: a contagious usually transient enthusiasm : craze
fevered; fevering
ˈfe-vər-iŋ 
ˈfē-vriŋ
: to throw into a fever : agitate
: to contract or be in a fever : become feverish
Synonyms
Examples of fever in a Sentence
Noun
The symptoms of the disease include headache and fever.
We waited in a fever of anticipation.
He had us all in a fever with worry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2024
Toxoplasmosis infections during pregnancy are very serious as well, causing symptoms like fever, chills, headaches, and rashes.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 22 Oct. 2024
Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Despite ongoing health reforms, access to everything from ventilators to fever medicine remains scant for the 500 million people who live in the countryside.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for fever 
Noun
Consumption of contaminated food can cause salmonellosis, the most common symptoms of which are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after consumption.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2024
Toxoplasmosis infections during pregnancy are very serious as well, causing symptoms like fever, chills, headaches, and rashes.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
Visits to fever clinics fell 96.2%, from a peak of 2.867 million on Dec. 22 to 110,000 on Jan. 23.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Despite ongoing health reforms, access to everything from ventilators to fever medicine remains scant for the 500 million people who live in the countryside.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
See all Example Sentences for fever
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fever. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fever
1 of 2 noun
fe·ver
ˈfē-vər
1
: a rise of body temperature above the normal whether a natural response (as to infection) or artificially induced for therapeutic reasons
2
: an abnormal bodily state characterized by increased production of heat, accelerated heart action and pulse, and systemic debility with weakness, loss of appetite, and thirst
3
: any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
fever
2 of 2 verb
fevered; fevering
ˈfēv-(ə-)riŋ
: to affect with fever
the malarial plasmodia fevered him
: to contract or be in a fever : be or become feverish
the malaria victim fevered intermittently
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