hectic
Americanadjective
adjective
-
characterized by extreme activity or excitement
-
associated with, peculiar to, or symptomatic of tuberculosis (esp in the phrases hectic fever, hectic flush )
noun
-
a hectic fever or flush
-
rare a person who is consumptive or who experiences a hectic fever or flush
Other Word Forms
- hectically adverb
- hecticly adverb
- hecticness noun
- nonhectic adjective
- nonhectically adverb
- unhectic adjective
- unhectically adverb
Etymology
Origin of hectic
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin hecticus, from Greek hektikós “habitual, consumptive,” adjective derivative of héxis “possession, state, habit,” equivalent to hech- (base of échein “to have, hold, keep”) + -sis -sis; replacing Middle English etyk, from Middle French
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.
That's just ridiculous, so why do the powers that be often organise midweek games during these hectic final days, or even on deadline day itself?
From BBC
Andresen said he wanted to be on the wheel of his main rival Brennan in the final hectic finishing sprint in Sunday's 183.8 kilometre road race and relished his opportunity to have the last crack.
From Barron's
The reader doesn’t discover much about how Mansfield’s work was shaped by changing personal circumstances, from hectic bohemia to a series of continental spas, and learns too little about Mansfield’s achievements as a literary provocateur.
The latter missed a glorious chance in the 88th minute, slicing wide when a deflected Gordon cross came to him, leaving Newcastle facing a hectic fixture list in February.
From Barron's
Chelsea's hectic transfer activity, both incoming and outgoing, has added further complexity.
From BBC
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.
