Word
frantically
Phoneticsfran·ti·cal·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɹænəkəɫi/
UK/fɹˈɑːntɪkli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. doing something in a very fast, worried, or disorganized way because you are in a hurry or afraid. You use this when someone is panicking or has too much to do at once.
adv. in a hurried, excited, or disorganized manner, typically resulting from fear, anxiety, or an urgent need to complete a task.
Examples
“She searched frantically for her lost keys.”
“The students worked frantically to finish their exams before the final bell rang.”
“As the floodwaters began to rise, the villagers worked frantically to stack sandbags along the riverbank, hoping to protect their homes from the impending surge.”
Examples
simple
“She searched frantically for her lost keys.”
contextual
“The students worked frantically to finish their exams before the final bell rang.”
complex
“As the floodwaters began to rise, the villagers worked frantically to stack sandbags along the riverbank, hoping to protect their homes from the impending surge.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Real-World Examples
“In a video released by the Lakeland Police Department of the incident that happened last Wednesday, officers at the scene are seen frantically trying to track down the driver and the kids.” “In the bathroom later, he checked the phone messages he had been ignoring for the previous few hours and found that his family had been frantically trying to reach him.” Etymology
From earlier franticly, equivalent to frantic + -ally.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/frantically