# spree

/ˈspɹi/ (US) · /spɹˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spree
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a period of indulgence

noun · CEFR B2

a short time when you do a lot of one activity, usually spending money or eating, without stopping.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a merry frolic

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old-fashioned word for a lively party or a time spent drinking with friends.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She went on a shopping spree last weekend.
- After receiving his bonus, he went on a spending spree and bought a new laptop and a weekend trip.
- The sudden burst of creative energy resulted in a writing spree that produced three chapters in a single afternoon, defying his usual slow pace.

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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.