feverish

[ fee-ver-ish ]

/ ˈfi vər ɪʃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR feverish ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having fever.

pertaining to, of the nature of, or resembling fever: a feverish excitement.

excited, restless, or uncontrolled, as if from fever.

having a tendency to produce fever.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

fever therapy, fever tree, fever twig, fevered, feverfew, feverish, feverishly, feverous, feverously, feverroot, feverweed

Origin of feverish

First recorded in 1350–1400, feverish is from the Middle English word feverisch. See fever, -ish¹

SYNONYMS FOR feverish

3 frenzied, impatient, fervent, wrought-up.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR feverish ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

fe·ver·ish·ly, adverbfe·ver·ish·ness, nounnon·fe·ver·ish, adjectivenon·fe·ver·ish·ly, adverb

non·fe·ver·ish·ness, nounpseu·do·fe·ver·ish, adjectivepseu·do·fe·ver·ish·ly, adverbun·fe·ver·ish, adjective

Can be confusedfervent fever feverish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for feverishly

On the first day of her shoot, she arrived sick and feverishly red.
Thai Pop Star Yayaying Rhatha Phongam Debuts in ‘Only God Forgives’|Jean Trinh|July 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
While we were waiting for our luggage I saw him feverishly tapping his iPad.
Simon de Pury: ‘I’m Addicted to Instagram’|Simon de Pury|July 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Israel feverishly expecting the presidential touchdown is no longer the Israel that welcomed George W. Bush in January 2008.
Why Obama Will Address Israelis, Not Their Politicians|Fania Oz-Salzberger|March 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The feverishly anticipated new ‘Call of Duty’ game features an unfortunate appearance by the former CIA director.
David Petraeus in ‘Call of Duty’ & More Poorly Timed Cameos (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|November 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST

It seems like only a few days ago that we were feverishly murmuring about the impending implosion of the global system.
More Mania in the Markets|Zachary Karabell|October 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He felt that the dancer's eyes were fixed upon him, and he was feverishly anxious not to respond to the invitation of their gaze.
The Hillman|E. Phillips Oppenheim
At the end of July our garrison at Koblenz was feverishly agitated.
A German deserter's war experience|Anonymous
Stepan Trofimovitch became more and more excited, feverishly so, beyond his strength.
The Possessed|Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Boy was feverishly overhauling the provisions behind the stove.
The Magnetic North|Elizabeth Robins (C. E. Raimond)
"Yes, with a wife in Noo Orleans all right," she interrupted him feverishly.
The Girl of the Golden West|David Belasco

British Dictionary definitions for feverishly

feverish

feverous

/ (ˈfiːvərɪʃ) /

adjective

suffering from fever, esp a slight fever

in a state of restless excitement

of, relating to, caused by, or causing fever

Derived Formsfeverishly or feverously, adverbfeverishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for feverishly

feverish

adj.

late 14c., "causing fever;" 1630s, "excited;" 1640s, "having symptoms of fever," from fever + -ish. Earlier in same sense was feverous (late 14c.). Related: Feverishly; feverishness.

Medicine definitions for feverishly

feverish

[ fē′vər-ĭsh ]

adj.

Having a fever.

Relating to or resembling a fever.

Causing or tending to cause a fever.