Word
fuss
US/ˈfəs/
UK/fˈʌs/
Definitions
01unnecessary excitement
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. too much worry or excitement about something that is not very important.
n. excessive or unnecessary activity, excitement, or concern regarding a trivial matter.
“All that fuss over a broken plate seemed a bit much to me.”
“The media made a tremendous fuss about the minor scheduling conflict, treating it as if it were a major political scandal.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'about' or 'over'.
Antonyms
02a complaint
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a show of anger or a complaint about something you do not like.
n. a public display of protest, complaint, or dissatisfaction.
“He made a fuss at the restaurant because his soup was cold.”
“If the service doesn't improve, I am prepared to make a fuss and demand to speak with the manager.”
Usage
Commonly used in the idiom 'to make a fuss'.
03extra attention
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a lot of attention, praise, or love shown to a person or animal.
n. an exhibition of excessive affection, admiration, or solicitous attention.
“Everyone made a big fuss of the new baby when they arrived.”
“The dog enjoys the fuss the children make of him whenever they visit for the weekend.”
Usage
In British English, the construction is usually 'make a fuss of someone'.
Antonyms
04to worry or be busy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to worry too much about small details or to keep busy with unimportant things.
v. to behave in a nervous or restless manner; to pay excessive attention to petty details.
“Stop fussing with your hair and let's go to the party.”
“She spent the entire morning fussing over the seating arrangements, even though it was just an informal lunch.”
Usage
Intransitive verb; frequently followed by 'over' or 'with'.
Antonyms
05to be unhappy or cry
B2 · Upper Intermediate American English
v. to be annoyed or to cry a little bit, especially used for babies.
v. to be ill-humoured or to cry fretfully.
“The baby started to fuss because it was past his nap time.”
“The toddler began to fuss and pull at his clothes as the afternoon heat became more intense.”
Real-World Examples
“Instead, make a fuss about something a child is good at (for example, "Wow—you are definitely the best cook, swimmer or artist in the family!").” “Half the benefit for a tenth of the fuss.” Etymology
Of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)). Compare also fouse (“to hasten, rush, tumble, disarrange”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. kick up a fuss
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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