frantically

adverb

fran·​ti·​cal·​ly ˈfran-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce frantically (audio)
Synonyms of franticallynext
: in a frantic manner : in a nervously hurried, desperate, or panic-stricken way
searching frantically for the key fob
[Carlton] Fisk stood several feet down the line, frantically urging the ball fair with his hands. It hit the yellow foul pole above the wall, a home run.Ron Fimrite
Wine companies, fearing that younger drinkers are slipping out of their grasp, have been frantically trying to create products that will be viewed as edgy, hip and fun.Mitch Frank
During the new moon, a hatch of baby sea turtles erupts from the sand, struggling frantically to get to the ocean.Bernice Notenboom

Examples of frantically in a Sentence

the veterinarian ran frantically from room to room looking for the escaped hamster
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The mid-majors have responded by frantically pumping money into their revenue-sharing and NIL budgets. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 Before the collision, an air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop. Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026 An air traffic controller can be heard on airport communications frantically telling the fire truck to stop. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 The controller can then be heard frantically diverting an incoming aircraft from landing. Jake Offenhartz, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frantically

Word History

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frantically was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frantically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frantically. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster