fever pitch

American  

noun

1. a high degree of excitement, as of a gathering of people.

   The announcement of victory brought the crowd to fever pitch.

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fever pitch British  

noun

1. a state of intense excitement

   things were at fever pitch with the election coming up

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Etymology

Origin of fever pitch

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The threats reached a fever pitch just as global political and business elites gathered in Davos for their annual meet-and-greet.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

Getting themselves to fever pitch when there's cordite in the air is one thing.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Those calls reached a fever pitch late last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Those marketing campaigns go beyond social media posts to keep anticipation at a fever pitch and actively engage the fandom while also attracting new viewers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2026

He raises one arm up high as the music’s tempo increases to a fever pitch, until I can hardly bear it.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu