adrenaline

noun

adren·a·line ə-ˈdre-nə-lən

: epinephrine

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 Country

Examples of adrenaline in a Sentence

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.

Quieting your mind stimulates the part of your brain that dampens the surges of adrenaline and cortisol accompanying stress. —

Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Fear, and the rush of adrenaline that comes with it, is present. —

Jennifer Stavros, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024 The caffeine high felt from drinking coffee comes from adrenaline and cortisol running through your body, which provides you with stamina and euphoria. —

Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 While all the John Wick films are bone-crunching shots of adrenaline, the action in Chapter 4 is elevated by the presence of Yen and Sanada, who slip seamlessly into this beautifully violent world alongside Reeves. —

Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adrenaline