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

After that adrenaline starts surging, a few motionless seconds can feel like a lifetime. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Concealing his condition, adrenaline masking his pain, Manganiello powered through a meeting with Affleck, offered him the role of Deathstroke, the main villain in the Batman movie Affleck was writing, directing and starring in. — Joe Manganiello, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

For the next couple of hours, the exhaustion disappears into the adrenaline of the show — and the strange intimacy of being that close. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

Before reacting, give yourself time to separate the facts from the adrenaline of being caught off guard. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026

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