fever

American  

[fee-ver] / ˈfi vər /

noun

• fevers
  plural

1. an abnormal condition of the body, characterized by undue rise in temperature, quickening of the pulse, and disturbance of various body functions.

2. an abnormally high body temperature.

3. the number of degrees of such a temperature above the normal.

4. any of a group of diseases in which high temperature is a prominent symptom.

   scarlet fever.

5. intense nervous excitement.

   The audience was in a fever of anticipation.

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verb (used with object)

1. to affect with or as with fever.

   The excitement fevered him.

fever British  

/ ˈfiːvə /

noun

1. an abnormally high body temperature, accompanied by a fast pulse rate, dry skin, etc

2. any of various diseases, such as yellow fever or scarlet fever, characterized by a high temperature

3. intense nervous excitement or agitation

   she was in a fever about her party

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verb

1. (tr) to affect with or as if with fever

fever Scientific  

/ fē′vər /

1. A body temperature that is higher than normal. Fever is the body's natural response to the release of substances called pyrogens by infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses. The pyrogens stimulate the hypothalamus in the brain to conserve heat and increase the basal metabolic rate.

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fever Idioms  

1. see cabin fever; run a fever.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fevered
  adjective
• feverless
  adjective
• unfevered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fevers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fever

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fefer, from Latin febr-, stem of febris; reinforced by Anglo-French fevre, Old French fievre, from Latin, as above

Explanation

A fever happens when the body's internal temperature is higher than normal. If you have a sore throat, a headache, and a fever, you may have the flu. When you have a fever, your skin may feel hot, and your temperature as measured by a thermometer will be high. A fever can also make you feel achy, tired, and chilly, and it can be a sign that you've got some kind of infection. The Old English is fefor, from a Latin root, febris, also "fever." Doctors and nurses sometimes refer to a fever as a "febrile response."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fever fevers

People with diarrhea and a high fever, prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, or signs of dehydration should contact their medical provider immediately, the CDC said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

About one in 150 people will experience severe symptoms that include high fever, a stiff neck and muscle weakness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting or fever.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Symptoms of Ebola, which are similar to the flu or malaria, include fever, headache and tiredness, and can begin suddenly within two to 21 days of infection.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

I felt hot all of a sudden inside my puffy jacket, like I was coming down with a fever.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

"There was no fevers, no headaches, absolutely nothing. It came from nowhere."

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Hantavirus is a rare respiratory disease that is usually spread from infected rodents and can cause respiratory and cardiac distress as well as haemorrhagic fevers.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

Health officials say the sick passengers have symptoms like fevers along with gastrointestinal and respiratory issues.

From MarketWatch ● May 5, 2026

As they grew up, they went into the emergency room for X-rays, stitches and treatment for fevers and infections.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2025

Maman is ill most of the time, with fevers that come and go.

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

Related Words

• delirium
• frenzy
• turmoil