adrenaline

noun

adren·a·line ə-ˈdre-nə-lən

: epinephrine

Note: Adrenaline is used in both technical and nontechnical contexts. It is commonly used in describing the physiological symptoms (such as increased heart rate and respiration) that occur as part of the body's fight-or-flight response to stress, as when someone is in a dangerous, frightening, or highly competitive situation, as well as the feelings of heightened energy, excitement, strength, and alertness associated with those symptoms. In figurative use, it suggests a drug that provides something with a jolt of useful energy and stimulation.

He felt a rush of adrenaline as he parachuted from the airplane.

The fans were jubilant, raucous, their adrenaline running high.—

W. P. Kinsella

My reputation was as a single-day racer; show me the start line and I would win on adrenaline and anger, chopping off my competitors one by one.—

Lance Armstrong

London's summer antiques scene has been given a massive injection of adrenaline.—

Town and Country

Examples of adrenaline in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

But Tuesday night was a mass infusion of adrenaline, if nothing else. —

E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024 In extreme circumstances, exposure to egg could cause anaphylaxis, an extreme allergic reaction and life-threatening emergency requiring urgent medical attention and an immediate shot of adrenaline, also known as epinephrine. —

Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024 Deep, slow belly breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system to counteract stress signs such as an elevated heart rate and a burst of adrenaline. —

Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 6 Nov. 2024 The 49ers could get a shot of adrenaline in the form of running back Christian McCaffrey, who is coming back from Achilles tendinitis in both feet and was limited in practice for the third time this week. —

Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adrenaline