spree

A spree is a short period when someone does a lot of something in a fast, excited, and often excessive way. Think of a shopping spree, where someone buys many things at once, or a crime spree, where someone commits several crimes over a short time. It usually carries a sense of impulse rather than careful planning.

The word suggests a temporary break from normal restraint. A "destructive spree" means causing damage again and again for a while, and a "spending spree" suggests money being spent freely and quickly. It's not usually used for something calm or carefully organized; it points to energy, excess, and a limited stretch of time.

A spree is a period of intense, unrestrained activity. Very often, it means doing a lot of something over a short time with excitement and little self-control. Sometimes that activity is fun, as in a shopping spree or a travel spree. Sometimes it is harmful, as in a crime spree or a killing spree. In both cases, the idea is the same: the action comes in a rush and stands out from normal behavior.

The word often appears after another noun that tells you what kind of rush it is: shopping spree, spending spree, crime spree, buying spree. It can also be used more loosely for a sudden wave of activity, such as a cleaning spree or a cooking spree, though these everyday uses are usually more informal. What ties them together is the sense of doing a lot, quickly, and more intensely than usual.

The key idea is that it is temporary and often excessive. It is not a steady habit or a long-term pattern by itself; it is a burst. Someone might go on a baking spree during the holidays and make tray after tray of cookies, then return to normal life the next week. In news stories, the word is especially common for repeated bad acts done within one period.

So whether it points to excited spending, a sudden rush of activity, or a disturbing series of offenses, a spree suggests intensity, excess, and a temporary break from the usual routine.