Word
spree
US/ˈspɹi/
UK/spɹˈiː/
Definitions
01a period of indulgence
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a short time when you do a lot of one activity, usually spending money or eating, without stopping.
n. a period of unrestrained activity or indulgence, often used in compounds like 'shopping spree' or 'spending spree'.
“After getting her first paycheck, she went on a shopping spree at the mall.”
“The company embarked on a massive hiring spree to ensure they had enough staff for the upcoming product launch.”
02a merry frolic
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. an old-fashioned word for a lively party or a time spent drinking with friends.
n. a lively frolic or a drinking bout; this sense is largely restricted to older literature or specific regional dialects.
“The sailors went on a spree as soon as their ship reached the port.”
“In the nineteenth-century novel, the protagonist's downfall begins with a wild spree in the city's taverns.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Police say 15 vehicles were stolen in the crime spree.” “Which was what made the spending spree of last summer so surprising: it wasn’t so much who came in as who didn’t.” Etymology
Borrowed from German Spree.
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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