# insane

/ˌɪnˈseɪn/ (US) · /ɪnsˈeɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insane
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. foolish or extreme

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

very foolish, dangerous, or extreme in a way that seems impossible.

For teachers: characterised by extreme folly, impracticality, or lack of reason.

- It is insane to drive that fast on such a narrow, icy road.
- The company's plan to double its workforce in a single month was frankly insane given the current economic climate.

### 3. amazing or impressive

adjective · CEFR B2 · Slang

extremely good, impressive, or surprising.

For teachers: extraordinary in degree or quality; used as a high-intensity positive evaluation.

- The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely insane.
- The guitarist performed an insane solo that left the entire audience standing in disbelief.

### 4. very large or intense

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to describe an amount or feeling that is much bigger than usual.

For teachers: denoting an extreme or excessive degree of something, such as an amount or a physical sensation.

- There was an insane amount of traffic on the way to the airport.
- The pressure to meet the quarterly targets was insane, forcing the team to work through several consecutive weekends.

## Examples

- The traffic in the city today is absolutely insane.
- It would be insane to quit your job before you have found a new one.
- The athlete's performance was nothing short of insane, breaking a world record that many experts believed would stand for at least another decade.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.