adrenaline
noun
Note: Adrenaline is used in both technical and nontechnical contexts. It is commonly used in describing the physiological symptoms (such as increased heart rate and respiration) that occur as part of the body's fight-or-flight response to stress, as when someone is in a dangerous, frightening, or highly competitive situation, as well as the feelings of heightened energy, excitement, strength, and alertness associated with those symptoms. In figurative use, it suggests a drug that provides something with a jolt of useful energy and stimulation.
W. P. KinsellaLance ArmstrongTown and CountryExamples of adrenaline in a Sentence
ABC News, 4 Apr. 2026
Whether the Sharks limp backward to the finish line, force their way into the tournament on pure adrenaline, or maybe even steal a game or two from the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, the true goal for this season is already safely achieved.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Expect hilarious family dynamics and surprisingly high-adrenaline action.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
The Poison frontman, evoking the regional dialect of his native Pittsburgh, bursts with adrenaline on a typical day.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adrenaline
Cite this Entry
“Adrenaline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adrenaline. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adrenaline
noun
Medical Definition
adrenaline
noun
