# wired

/ˈwaɪɝd/ (US) · /wˈaɪəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wired
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. connected by cables

adjective · CEFR B1

connected to a power source or a network using physical wires or cables.

For teachers: equipped with or connected by electrical or electronic wires for power or data transmission.

- A wired internet connection is usually faster and more stable than Wi-Fi.
- The technician ensured the entire office was wired for high-speed data before the new servers were installed.

Usage: Often used in contrast with 'wireless' or 'Wi-Fi'.

### 2. excited or overstimulated

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

feeling very excited, nervous, or full of energy, often from too much caffeine or lack of sleep.

For teachers: experiencing a state of high nervous energy or overstimulation, typically due to stimulants or stress.

- I drank three cups of coffee and now I feel completely wired.
- After working through the night on the project, the team appeared wired and exhausted during the final presentation.

Teaching tip: Commonly used to describe the 'jittery' feeling after drinking too much coffee or energy drinks.

### 3. online or connected

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

connected to the internet or very involved in modern technology.

For teachers: integrated into a digital network or the internet; culturally attuned to digital technology.

- Today's wired generation expects to have internet access everywhere they go.
- The magazine focuses on how the wired world is changing the way we handle international commerce and personal privacy.

### 4. containing hidden microphones

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

having hidden recording devices or microphones placed in a room or on a person.

For teachers: equipped with concealed electronic eavesdropping devices for surveillance purposes.

- The police made sure the informant was wired before he met with the suspects.
- The detectives suspected the office was wired, so they conducted their most sensitive conversations in the park.

## Examples

- I drank three cups of coffee and now I feel totally wired.
- After working through the night on the presentation, the team felt wired and unable to sleep.
- In our increasingly wired society, the distinction between professional availability and personal time has become blurred by constant digital connectivity.

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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.