English Reference

Word

delirious

Phoneticsdeliri·ous

US/dɪˈɫɪɹiəs/

UK/dɪlˈɪɹɪəs/

Definition

adj. feeling extremely happy or excited. You can also use it to describe someone who is very sick and confused.

adj. feeling an intense state of happiness, excitement, or joy; alternatively, suffering from a state of mental confusion or disorientation caused by illness.

Examples

“She was delirious with joy when she heard the news.”

“The crowd was delirious with excitement as the home team scored the winning goal in the final minute.”

“While the patient was delirious with fever, his family remained calm, hoping the high temperature would break before the sun rose.”

Examples

simple

“She was delirious with joy when she heard the news.”

contextual

“The crowd was delirious with excitement as the home team scored the winning goal in the final minute.”

complex

“While the patient was delirious with fever, his family remained calm, hoping the high temperature would break before the sun rose.”

Real-World Examples

“David Mokwa added another early in the second half in front of 9,307 delirious fans.”
The Guardian · 29 Aug 2026
“By the time art-lovers reach Ireland’s presentation, they are frequently exhausted, if not delirious.”
The Guardian · 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

From delirium + -ous; see also Latin delirus (“silly, doting, crazy”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference