freak

[ freek ]

/ frik /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: freak / freaker / freakest / freaking on Thesaurus.com

noun

any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.

a person or animal on exhibition as an example of a strange deviation from nature.

a sudden and apparently causeless change or turn of events, the mind, etc.; an apparently capricious notion, occurrence, etc.: That kind of sudden storm is a freak.

Numismatics. an imperfect coin, undetected at the mint and put into circulation.

Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same printing because of creases, dirty engraving plates, etc.Compare error (def. 8), variety (def. 8).

Slang.

a person who has withdrawn from normal, rational behavior and activities to pursue one interest or obsession: a drug freak.
a devoted fan or follower; enthusiast: a baseball freak.
a hippie.

Archaic. capriciousness; whimsicality.

adjective

unusual; odd; irregular: a freak epidemic.

verb (used with or without object)

to become or to make (someone) insane or out of control, as a result of being frightened, wildly excited, or high on drugs: Mom'll freak if she ever finds out we threw that party when she was out of town.The loud noise freaked the horses just as they were being loaded into trailers.

Verb Phrases

freak out, Slang. See entry at freakout.

OTHER WORDS FOR freak

3 vagary, quirk, crotchet.

See synonyms for freak on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of freak

First recorded in 1555–65; 1965–70 for def. 6; perhaps akin to Old English frīcian “to dance”

Words nearby freak

FRCM, FRCO, F.R.C.P., F.R.C.S., FRCVS, freak, freaking, freakish, freak of nature, freakout, freak show

Other definitions for freak (2 of 2)

freak²

[ freek ]

/ frik /

verb (used with object)

to fleck, streak, or variegate: great splashes of color freaking the sky.

noun

a fleck or streak of color.

Origin of freak

Apparently introduced by Milton in Lycidas (1637), perhaps as blend of freck to mark with spots (perhaps back formation from freckle) and streak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use freak in a sentence

Still, fans can’t help but happily freak out that Janet Hubert, the actress who played the original Aunt Viv in the ’90s series, was included in the festivities.
‘Full Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’ Cast Reunites To Celebrate The Show’s 30th Anniversary|Hope Wright|September 11, 2020|Essence.com
Two weeks ago, after freak lightning strikes torched Northern California but before the inferno of Labor Day weekend had begun, a friend called to talk, like you do when the world is turning to crap and nothing is stable or makes sense.
The Climate Crisis Is Happening Right Now. Just Look at California’s Weekend.|by Elizabeth Weil|September 9, 2020|ProPublica
In a matter of weeks, California has been hit with two record-breaking heat waves, hundreds of blazes, freak lightning storms and dangerously poor air quality.
California faces widespread power cuts after weeks of destructive wildfires|kdunn6|September 8, 2020|Fortune
People freak out if there’s a single bad day whereas in the past there was a little more leniency.
‘The dollar amount isn’t worth the mental toll’: Confessions of a media buyer on the pressure to keep performance up amid the pandemic|Kristina Monllos|August 25, 2020|Digiday

People also can’t tell if you have a mask when it’s hiding in your pocket, so you could freak out an immunocompromised hiker or runner.
6 Ways to Carry Your Mask While Running|Joe Jackson|August 24, 2020|Outside Online
Really, is it any wonder that fluoride should freak people out?
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
They had a freak-out moment and destroyed some source material.
Laura Poitras on Snowden's Unrevealed Secrets|Marlow Stern|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was already a full-blown movie freak by the time I was in 8th grade.
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession|Pauline Kael|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And in a culture as paranoid as ours, we freak out about them all the time.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer|James Poulos|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After her husband dies in a freak accident, Regal moves to Tel Aviv.
Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos|Itay Hod|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But to others it was only a freak of the lad's imagination, which had been much influenced by the reading of romances.
The Circular Study|Anna Katharine Green
Another contributory source to this oddest freak of my life was the terms on which I had returned to the college.
In Accordance with the Evidence|Oliver Onions
A child born with three legs is a freak of nature, a monstrosity, yet it sometimes appears.
Etidorhpa or the End of Earth.|John Uri Lloyd
The Druggists Circular is to be congratulated on exposing this latest pharmaceutical freak.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2|Various
By some freak of nature here was a place where the breed ran to high blood.
Riders of the Silences|John Frederick

British Dictionary definitions for freak (1 of 2)

freak¹

/ (friːk) /

noun

a person, animal, or plant that is abnormal or deformed; monstrosity

an object, event, etc, that is abnormal or extremely unusual
(as modifier)a freak storm

a personal whim or caprice

informal a person who acts or dresses in a markedly unconventional or strange way

informal a person who is obsessed with something specifieda jazz freak

verb

See freak out

Word Origin for freak

C16: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for freak (2 of 2)

freak²

/ (friːk) rare /

noun

a fleck or streak of colour

verb

(tr) to streak with colour; variegate

Word Origin for freak

C17: from earlier freaked, probably coined by Milton, based on streak 1 + obsolete freckt freckled; see freckle

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

freak

OTHER WORDS FOR freak

Origin of freak

Words nearby freak

Other definitions for freak (2 of 2)

Origin of freak

Words related to freak

How to use freak in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for freak (1 of 2)

Word Origin for freak

British Dictionary definitions for freak (2 of 2)

Word Origin for freak