WordGarden.iocrazily
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /krˈeɪzɪli/
US
- /ˈkreɪzəli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a wild, uncontrolled, or irrational way
to an extreme degree; very
Beyond the definition
Imagine a puppy discovering a ball of yarn—it runs around, tangling itself up, full of chaotic energy! That's the kind of energy "crazily" can add. It describes doing something in a wild, uncontrolled way, often bordering on reckless or frantic behavior. You might laugh crazily at a silly joke, dance crazily at a concert, or even drive crazily (though that is definitely not recommended!).
"Crazily" isn't just about speed; it's about how something is done—with little restraint and a touch of wildness. In casual speech, it can also mean "very" or "extremely": "The tickets were crazily expensive." And sometimes it introduces something unexpected: "Crazily enough, it worked."
"Crazily" is an adverb that describes how something is done—with intense energy, excitement, and often a lack of control. It suggests behavior that is wild, frantic, or even slightly mad. It doesn't necessarily mean someone is mentally unstable (and it is not a medical term), but it can sound judgmental if you use it about a person.
You might say the wind howled crazily during a storm, meaning it was incredibly fierce and chaotic. A musician could play the guitar crazily, improvising with unrestrained passion. Someone deeply in love might stare crazily into their partner's eyes, lost in adoration.
In informal English, "crazily" is also used to talk about degree, almost like "extremely": "The hotel was crazily expensive," or "It's been crazily busy." It can also be used as a sentence adverb to emphasize something unexpected or hard to explain: "Crazily enough, it started raining while the sun was shining brightly."
Think about a scene in a movie where someone makes a desperate, last-minute decision—they might run crazily toward danger, fueled by adrenaline and determination. That's the essence of "crazily"—something done with unrestrained energy and a touch of delightful (or terrifying) chaos, or simply to show that something is extreme.
Examples
- 1
Alarm panic
When the fire alarm went off, people ran around crazily for a few seconds.
- 2
Wild laughter
He laughed crazily when he heard the impossible news.
- 3
High prices
Hotel rooms were crazily expensive during the festival.
- Usagecrazily + adjective
an informal way to mean "extremely"
- 4
Busy schedule
I've been crazily busy this week, so I'm behind on my emails.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Jealousy
She became crazily jealous when she saw him with his ex.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- frantically
- recklessly
- manically
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- laugh crazily
- drive crazily
- act crazily
Word family
Explore
- erratic behavior
- loss of control
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- crazilyadverb