hectic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
full of busy activity, excitement, or confusion.
characterised by intense activity, haste, or agitation. This is the standard modern sense used in both professional and social contexts.
Simple“It has been a hectic week at work with three major deadlines.”
In context“The city centre becomes incredibly hectic during the holiday season, as thousands of shoppers navigate the crowded streets and public transport delays.”
UsageCommonly used to describe periods of time like 'a hectic day' or 'a hectic schedule'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
relating to a fever that makes your cheeks look red and your skin feel dry.
relating to a fluctuating fever, typically associated with wasting diseases like tuberculosis, characterized by a persistent flush.
Simple“The old book described the patient's hectic flush as a sign of his illness.”
In context“In nineteenth-century literature, a hectic glow on the protagonist's cheeks often served as a symbolic precursor to their eventual decline from consumption.”
Teacher's tipThis medical sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter the 'busy' sense in conversation and media.
“Injuries and a hectic pre-season have given Roberto De Zerbi plenty to think about.”
“Shaw says: “The first two or three days of our holidays were very hectic.”
From Middle English etik, ethik, from Old French etique, from Medieval Latin *hecticus, from Ancient Greek ἑκτικός (hektikós, “habitual, hectic, consumptive”), from ἕξις (héxis, “a state or habit of body or of mind, condition”), from ἔχειν (ékhein, “to have, hold, be in a certain state”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.