Word
hectic
Phoneticshec·tic, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɛktɪk/
UK/hˈɛktɪk/
Definitions
01very busy and active
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. full of busy activity, excitement, or confusion.
adj. characterised by intense activity, haste, or agitation. This is the standard modern sense used in both professional and social contexts.
“It has been a hectic week at work with three major deadlines.”
“The city centre becomes incredibly hectic during the holiday season, as thousands of shoppers navigate the crowded streets and public transport delays.”
Usage
Commonly used to describe periods of time like 'a hectic day' or 'a hectic schedule'.
02feverish
C2 · Proficiency Medicine Archaic · Technical
adj. relating to a fever that makes your cheeks look red and your skin feel dry.
adj. relating to a fluctuating fever, typically associated with wasting diseases like tuberculosis, characterized by a persistent flush.
“The old book described the patient's hectic flush as a sign of his illness.”
“In nineteenth-century literature, a hectic glow on the protagonist's cheeks often served as a symbolic precursor to their eventual decline from consumption.”
Teaching tip
This medical sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter the 'busy' sense in conversation and media.
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
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.
- 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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englishreference.com/q/hectic