feverishly

comparative more feverishly · superlative most feverishly

1. In a manner indicating a fever (high temperature).

   At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired.

   1888, Oscar Wilde, “The Happy Prince”, in The Happy Prince and Other Tales, London: Duckworth, published 1928, page 23

2. With excitement and determination.

   1 more example

   The US believes Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah in strikes over the last week but is still working feverishly behind the scenes to try to convince it not to escalate further and launch a ground incursion into Lebanon over concerns the intensified fighting could spark a broader conflict engulfing the wider Middle East, officials told CNN.

   2024 September 24, Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann and Jennifer Hansler, “US officials work feverishly to stop Israel-Hezbollah confrontation ‘spiraling to a regional war’”, in CNN

   Synonyms: energetically, excitedly

3. With great energy.
4. With speed; rapidly.

   In the outer room the two women knitted black wool feverishly.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I

   2 more examples

   All the way to Styles, Mary talked fast and feverishly. It struck me that in some way she was nervous of Poirot’s eyes.

   1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 148

   With nothing else to do, he carried the candle to the front room and began feverishly filling his pipe.

   1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 80

   Synonyms: quickly, rapidly, speedily