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

The energy and adrenaline is so extreme. —Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025

Experience the championship showdown with wall-to-wall HD screens, VIP seating, premium bottle service, and a party atmosphere that keeps the adrenaline high all night. —Nasha Smith, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Throughout his nine minor-league rehab starts, Garcia demonstrated decreased fastball velocity, but team officials hoped that adrenaline and pitching in a major-league game would naturally boost it. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Few if any filmmakers can build and breathlessly sustain visceral intensity with the command of Paul Greengrass, who brings documentary realism, kinetic energy and heart-pumping adrenaline to stories drawn from life or fiction, generally about people caught in explosive situations. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 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