adrenaline
noun
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Definition of adrenaline
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.
He felt a rush of adrenaline as he parachuted from the airplane. The fans were jubilant, raucous, their adrenaline running high.— W. P. Kinsella My reputation was as a single-day racer; show me the start line and I would win on adrenaline and anger, chopping off my competitors one by one.— Lance Armstrong London's summer antiques scene has been given a massive injection of adrenaline. — Town and CountryExamples of adrenaline in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Mike DeStefano, Bears game days always come with an extra adrenaline surge. — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, "Bears honor Mike DeStefano, a high school football star who was almost killed in a grisly car crash 10 years ago, by rolling out the red carpet," 5 Sep. 2019 EpiPens, which contain the hormone epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), are used to stave off allergic reactions that can in some cases kill. — Bloomberg News, oregonlive, "What鈥檚 behind the persistent shortage of lifesaving EpiPens?," 23 Aug. 2019 There was, of course, excitement and adrenaline in the undertaking. — Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, "After 15 months of rehab, Jay Groome gets back on the mound," 23 Aug. 2019 An epinephrine injector, used during an anaphylactic attack, delivers a dose of epinephrine, or adrenaline that minimizes swelling and opens airways. — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, "Illinois becomes first state to require EpiPen costs covered for kids. 'This is huge'," 15 Aug. 2019 When administered during an anaphylactic attack, the pens deliver what can be a lifesaving dose of epinephrine, or adrenaline. — Ryan Prior, CNN, "Illinois just became the first state to require insurance companies to cover EpiPen injectors for kids," 14 Aug. 2019 Come summer, Jackson Hole's famously steep terrain still delivers an adrenaline jolt. — Amy Tara Koch, Dallas News, "These four mountain getaways are worth a peak," 13 Aug. 2019 The result is a rare adrenaline boost for what has been a moribund economy. — Washington Post, "Venezuela鈥檚 moribund economy shows a pulse amid US sanctions," 12 Aug. 2019 The adrenaline shots are enormous in a band like this. — Chris Varias, Cincinnati.com, "Iron Maiden playing 'songs from way, way back' on 2019 tour," 8 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adrenaline.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for adrenaline
adrenaline
noun
English Language Learners Definition of adrenaline
See the full definition for adrenaline in the English Language Learners Dictionary
adrenaline
noun
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Kids Definition of adrenaline
adrenaline
noun
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Medical Definition of adrenaline
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