Meaning & use
epinephrine
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnicalmedical
A hormone made by the body that speeds up the heart and widens the airways in stressful or emergency situations.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or 'an' and without a plural: 'Epinephrine is released during stress.'
Patterns
- epinephrine is released
- levels of epinephrine
- epinephrine in the blood
When the body faces danger, epinephrine is released and the heart beats faster.
Blood tests showed high levels of epinephrine after the accident.
Doctors sometimes measure epinephrine to check how the adrenal glands are working.
noununcountablemedical
A drug form of this hormone, given by injection to treat severe allergic reactions or cardiac arrest.
Grammar: In medical use, often with 'a dose of' or 'an injection of': 'a dose of epinephrine'.
Patterns
- inject epinephrine
- a dose of epinephrine
- epinephrine auto-injector
- give someone epinephrine
She carries an epinephrine auto-injector in case of a severe allergic reaction.
The nurse gave him epinephrine immediately after the bee sting.
In an emergency, epinephrine can reopen the airways within minutes.
Common combinations
- epinephrine injection
- The doctor prescribed an epinephrine injection for his allergies.
- epinephrine auto-injector
- She always keeps her epinephrine auto-injector in her bag.
- release epinephrine
- Exercise and stress can cause the body to release epinephrine.
- a rush of epinephrine
- He felt a rush of epinephrine just before the race.
- epinephrine levels
- The test measures your epinephrine levels.
Synonyms and how they differ
- adrenaline
- The everyday word for the same substance, used in general conversation; epinephrine is the scientific and medical term.
Word family
- adrenaline noun
- The common name for epinephrine, especially in British English.
Commonly confused: epinephrine or norepinephrine?
epinephrine vs norepinephrine
A similar hormone that also raises blood pressure but works differently; epinephrine is the one used for severe allergic reactions.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'epinephrine' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Epinephrine is given by injection for severe allergic reactions, so option B fits. Option An is wrong because it is not a pill for headaches; option C is wrong because epinephrine is uncountable; option D is wrong because it is a hormone, not a vitamin.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “epinephrine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.