Meaning & use
hysterics
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Meanings
nounplural
Uncontrolled emotional behavior, such as wild crying or laughing, often because of strong feelings or stress.
Grammar: Always plural; used with a plural verb: 'The hysterics were loud.'
Patterns
- in hysterics
- have hysterics
- go into hysterics
She was in hysterics after hearing the terrible news.
The audience was in hysterics during the comedy show.
He had a fit of hysterics when he lost his keys.
nounpluralinformal
A state of extreme, uncontrollable laughter.
Grammar: Also plural; often used in the phrase 'in hysterics' meaning laughing very hard.
Patterns
- in hysterics
- be in hysterics
The joke left us all in hysterics.
She was in hysterics, unable to stop laughing.
His funny story had everyone in hysterics.
Common combinations
- in hysterics
- She was in hysterics after the surprise party.
- have hysterics
- He had hysterics when he saw the spider.
- go into hysterics
- She went into hysterics when she heard the news.
- fit of hysterics
- He had a fit of hysterics during the meeting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hysteria
- Hysteria is a more general term for exaggerated emotion, while hysterics often refers to a specific episode.
- panic
- Panic is sudden fear that causes unthinking behavior, whereas hysterics is more about emotional outbursts.
- frenzy
- Frenzy is wild, uncontrolled activity, often not emotional like hysterics.
Opposites
Word family
- hysteria noun
- A state of extreme emotion or excitement.
- hysterical adjective
- Describing someone who is in hysterics or very funny.
- hysterically adverb
- In a hysterical manner; often used to mean extremely funny.
Commonly confused: hysterics or hysteria?
hysterics vs hysteria
Hysteria is a noun for the condition; hysterics is plural and often used for a specific attack or fit.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The correct phrase is 'in hysterics', a fixed plural expression. 'Hysteric' is not used as a noun in this way, and 'a hysterics' is incorrect because the word is plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hysterics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.