1
a
: a rise of body temperature above the normal
b
: any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
2
a
: a state of heightened or intense emotion or activity
b
: a contagious usually transient enthusiasm : craze
fevered; fevering
ˈfē-vriŋ 
ˈfe-vər-iŋ
: to throw into a fever : agitate
: to contract or be in a fever : become feverish
Synonyms
Examples of fever in a Sentence
Noun
The symptoms of the disease include headache and fever.
We waited in a fever of anticipation.
He had us all in a fever with worry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
High fever, breast/chest or belly pain, and discharge can all be signs of infection.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, the film is more than a fan-fiction fever dream, taking standard rom-com wish fulfillment and dialing it up to unexpectedly charming effect.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Eclipse fever strikes Detroit waterfront Sitting on a chaise lounge along the Detroit River, not too far from the city's Cullen Plaza and the carousel, Desiree Williams of Belleville considered impending eclipse.
—Matthew Dolan, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
More common symptoms include: Diarrhea Vomiting Nausea Stomach pain
However, some individuals could experience fever, headaches and body aches.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 7 Apr. 2024
Measles develops seven to 21 days after exposure and early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, officials said.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
Can seasonal allergies cause fever, coughing, headaches, sore throat?
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Typical symptoms of meningitis infections include fever, headache, a stiff neck, an aversion to light and nausea.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Despite ongoing health reforms, access to everything from ventilators to fever medicine remains scant for the 500 million people who live in the countryside.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Adverse reactions can include pain and swelling in the injection site, fatigue, crankiness, sleepiness, headache, muscle aches and sometimes fever.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 14 Dec. 2022
The Frisian longing for the Eflstdentocht is so visceral there is a name for it: elfstedenkoorts, or eleven cities fever.
—Raphael Kadushin, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2022
Patients complained of pneumonia-like symptoms, shortness of breath, cough and chest pain, and also fever, stomach pain and diarrhea.
—Troy Farah, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
The only treatment available for sick children is at-home supportive care, which includes keeping them hydrated and sometimes fever medication.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2022
Enterovirus D68 causes symptoms that mirror those of common colds, with cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and sometimes fever.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 27 Sep. 2022
In the case of a severe asthma attack, seizure or fever in an infant, staff recommend going to the hospital’s emergency department.
—Amanda Zhou, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Sep. 2022
Noun
Why a measles outbreak is dangerous Measles' symptoms include a fever, cough, runny nose, white spots inside the mouth, and rashes that spread across the body.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
High fever, breast/chest or belly pain, and discharge can all be signs of infection.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Thankfully, the film is more than a fan-fiction fever dream, taking standard rom-com wish fulfillment and dialing it up to unexpectedly charming effect.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Eclipse fever strikes Detroit waterfront Sitting on a chaise lounge along the Detroit River, not too far from the city's Cullen Plaza and the carousel, Desiree Williams of Belleville considered impending eclipse.
—Matthew Dolan, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024
More common symptoms include: Diarrhea Vomiting Nausea Stomach pain
However, some individuals could experience fever, headaches and body aches.
—Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 7 Apr. 2024
Measles develops seven to 21 days after exposure and early symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, officials said.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
Can seasonal allergies cause fever, coughing, headaches, sore throat?
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2024
Typical symptoms of meningitis infections include fever, headache, a stiff neck, an aversion to light and nausea.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Visits to fever clinics fell 96.2%, from a peak of 2.867 million on Dec. 22 to 110,000 on Jan. 23.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2023
Despite ongoing health reforms, access to everything from ventilators to fever medicine remains scant for the 500 million people who live in the countryside.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2023
Adverse reactions can include pain and swelling in the injection site, fatigue, crankiness, sleepiness, headache, muscle aches and sometimes fever.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 14 Dec. 2022
The Frisian longing for the Eflstdentocht is so visceral there is a name for it: elfstedenkoorts, or eleven cities fever.
—Raphael Kadushin, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Mar. 2022
Patients complained of pneumonia-like symptoms, shortness of breath, cough and chest pain, and also fever, stomach pain and diarrhea.
—Troy Farah, Discover Magazine, 8 Sep. 2021
The only treatment available for sick children is at-home supportive care, which includes keeping them hydrated and sometimes fever medication.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2022
Enterovirus D68 causes symptoms that mirror those of common colds, with cough, shortness of breath, wheezing and sometimes fever.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 27 Sep. 2022
In the case of a severe asthma attack, seizure or fever in an infant, staff recommend going to the hospital’s emergency department.
—Amanda Zhou, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fever. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
fever
1 of 2 noun
fe·ver
ˈfē-vər
1
: a rise of body temperature above the normal whether a natural response (as to infection) or artificially induced for therapeutic reasons
2
: an abnormal bodily state characterized by increased production of heat, accelerated heart action and pulse, and systemic debility with weakness, loss of appetite, and thirst
3
: any of various diseases of which fever is a prominent symptom
fever
2 of 2 verb
fevered; fevering
ˈfēv-(ə-)riŋ
: to affect with fever
the malarial plasmodia fevered him
: to contract or be in a fever : be or become feverish
the malaria victim fevered intermittently
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