frantically
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of frantically
Explanation
When people act frantically or in an uncontrolled manner, it's best to give them their space. If there's a fire in a building, everyone will be stampeding frantically to the nearest exit. Just try not to get trampled. The word frantically comes from the Middle English frentik meaning "insane, violently mad," which is just what someone behaving frantically acts like. This word can be used to describe any number of actions. Your mother might be frantically pacing the room if you come home well after your curfew, or you might be frantically running to a class if you're late.
Vocabulary lists containing frantically
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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The Crossover
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People across Scotland have been frantically scrambling to find the right kind of protective eyewear as the UK prepares for the best view of a solar eclipse in nearly three decades.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The team had to frantically scour Craigslist for an electrician—who ultimately charged $500 in cash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Some passengers were frantically clinging to the hull of the partially submerged vessel, he said, as rescuers administered CPR to a man on a San Francisco police boat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
She frantically phoned hospitals and the police, thinking he was dead.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
When Roosevelt’s canoe was in sight, he shouted frantically for Roosevelt, telling him he wanted to surrender and climb on board the canoe.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
