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

Orlando tourists and locals with a need for speed can turn to K1 Speed this summer to get their adrenaline fix, thanks to the indoor attraction’s electric go-karts that are capable of reaching 45 mph. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025

Those little episodes of struggling for air trigger the release of hormones like adrenaline that stress your heart and ramp up your blood pressure over time, raising your chances of a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke, Dr. Won says. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 June 2025

Unlike traditional zombies, the infected can starve to death, and can be taken down by a shot to the heart, but can withstand terrible pain and injury, seemingly without noticing, as their body is constantly flooded with adrenaline. —Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

As the adrenaline began to wear off though, the Thunder started to impose their will in the third quarter of the game. —Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

adrenal entry 2 + -ine entry 2

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for adrenaline

• adrenalin
• isoprenaline
• noradrenalin
• noradrenaline

Kids Definition

adrenaline

noun

adren·​a·​line ə-ˈdren-ᵊl-ən 

: epinephrine

Medical Definition

adrenaline

noun

adren·​a·​line ə-ˈdren-ᵊl-ən 

: epinephrine

—recognized by the British Pharmaceutical Codex as the preferred name for epinephrine in Great Britain