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 Giants did their best to replicate the adrenaline that accompanies a real major-league outing, first setting up a nighttime start in Arizona against the team’s Double-A hitters and then having Wednesday’s come on a big-league mound against big-league hitters, in full uniform. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024

With the Wolfpack’s 76-64 ouster of Duke pretty much in hand with 1:47 left and time called, a much smaller reserve teammate of Burns rose to chest-bump him and nearly got knocked into the fourth row by Burns’ adrenaline. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024

The Level 2 course spans three days and really brings the adrenaline. —Daniel Golson / Jalopnik, Quartz, 1 Apr. 2024

Most notably, guests can step into the world of Barbie and experience the adrenaline pumping world of Hot Wheels, alongside other beloved and familiar brands, including Pictionary and UNO. —Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024

And if your child is regularly stealing, what is causing this need for adrenaline? —Meghan Leahy, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024

Fueled by guts and adrenaline, Hudson found a way to win a six-pitch duel with Jack Suwinski, throwing a nasty slider to strike out the Pirates slugger with the bases loaded on his 29th pitch of the inning to close out a 6-4 Dodgers victory. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024

Seasons change, apps pivot, and users learn to chase the adrenaline of the future through new and exotic machines of possibility. —Jason Parham, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024

According to a New York Times profile, Naomi was born with a chronic deficit of the hormone adrenaline. —Jessica Booth, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

adrenal entry 2 + -ine entry 2

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

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