Word Adverb
hysterically
adv.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌhɪsˈtɛɹɪkɫi/ UK /hɪstˈɛɹɪkli/ hys·ter·i·cal·ly
Definition
adv.in a way that shows you are very excited, nervous, or laughing a lot. It can also describe someone who is acting in a way that is not serious or logical.
adv.in a manner characterized by extreme emotion, nervousness, or uncontrollable laughter. Often used to describe behavior that is perceived as irrational or lacking self-control.
Examples
“She laughed hysterically at the funny joke.”
“The crowd cheered hysterically as the home team scored the winning goal in the final minute.”
“The witness began to speak hysterically, her voice cracking with emotion as she recounted the events of that night to the jury.”
Etymology
From hysterical + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated