electric

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Run by, carrying, or producing electrical power.

   Grammar: Comes before the noun: an electric kettle, not a kettle electric.

   Patterns

   • an electric something

   We bought an electric kettle that boils in two minutes.

   The city introduced electric buses to cut pollution.

   An electric current ran through the copper wire.

2. 2adjectivecomparablefigurative

   Full of thrilling excitement or tension.

   Grammar: Can follow a verb: the mood was electric.

   Patterns

   • the atmosphere was electric

   The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the final minute began.

   She gave an electric performance that left the audience speechless.

   There was an electric silence before the winner was announced.

Common combinations

electric car

Our neighbors just bought an electric car.

electric guitar

He plugged his electric guitar into the amp.

electric shock

Don't touch the bare wire or you will get an electric shock.

electric atmosphere

The final created an electric atmosphere in the arena.

electric light

Electric light changed how people lived after dark.

Synonyms and how they differ

electrical

Electrical describes things related to electricity in general, while electric usually names a device that runs on it.

thrilling

Thrilling describes an experience, while electric describes the charged feel of a moment or place.

charged

Charged suggests tension that might become conflict, whereas electric is more often positive.

Opposites

Word family

electricity noun

the power that runs devices

electrician noun

a person who installs and repairs wiring

electrify verb

to supply with power or to thrill greatly

electrically adverb

by means of electricity

Commonly confused: electric or electrical?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “electric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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