mad
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.having a mind that does not work in a healthy way; mentally ill.
adj.suffering from a mental illness or being extremely foolish. This is the primary sense in British English.
Simple“The old stories tell of a king who went mad and talked to the trees.”
In context“In nineteenth-century literature, characters were often described as going mad when they could no longer cope with social pressures.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'go mad'.
Teacher's tipIn modern contexts, using this to describe mental health can be seen as insensitive; 'mentally ill' is the neutral alternative.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.liking something very much or being very excited about it.
adj.extremely enthusiastic about or fond of something.
Simple“My brother is mad about football and never misses a game.”
In context“She was mad about jazz in her youth, spending every spare penny on vinyl records and concert tickets.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'about'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.very silly, stupid, or not making any sense.
adj.extremely foolish, unwise, or irrational.
Simple“It was a mad idea to go hiking in the middle of a thunderstorm.”
In context“The plan to expand the factory without securing extra funding was seen by many as a mad gamble.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
adv.used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' to make an adjective stronger.
adv.used as an intensifier to mean 'extremely' or 'very'.
Simple“That new video game is mad expensive, so I have to save up for it.”
In context“The concert was mad loud, but the atmosphere was incredible despite the noise levels.”