freak

USFREEK/fɹik/

Verbfreaks, freaking, freaked

Noun pluralfreaks

15 meanings of freak

Practice

1
verbslangintransitive
To suddenly get very upset, scared, or excited and lose control, or to make someone feel this way.
Don't freak, it's only a small spider.
He freaked when he couldn't find his phone.
UsagePeople often say freak out, or it freaks me out.
Similarpanic, flip
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2
big fannouncountable
A person who is crazy about something, or who knows a huge amount about it.
My brother is a soccer freak who watches every game.
She's a movie freak and knows the name of every actor.
UsageSay a soccer freak or a movie freak.
Similarfanatic, enthusiast, fan, buff, geek
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3
nounslangderogatorycountable
A person or thing that is very strange or unusual. It can be rude when said about a person.
The other kids called him a freak because he wore black every day.
She was proud to be a freak, with green hair and old ball gowns from the thrift store.
UsageSome people call themselves a freak with pride.
Similarweirdo, oddball, oddity
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4
unexpectedadjective
Very strange and not expected at all.
A freak snowstorm hit the town in May.
She hurt her knee in a freak accident at home.
UsageSay a freak accident or a freak storm.
Similarbizarre, abnormal, freakish, freaky, extraordinary
Oppositenormal, ordinary, common, usual
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5
nouncolloquialendearingcountable
A person who is very wild and strange about sex.
She told her best friend that her new boyfriend was a freak in bed.
He seemed shy at work, but his ex said he was a total freak when it came to sex.
Similarpervert
Oppositeprude

Less common meanings

6
hippienouncountable
A hippie, especially one with long hair and unusual clothes.
The park was full of freaks with long hair, flowers, and guitars.
My uncle was a freak in the sixties and lived on a farm with his friends.
Similarlonghair
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7
addictnouncountable
A person who cannot stop taking drugs.
Her uncle was a drug freak when he was young, but now he helps others quit.
He became a speed freak and lost his job.
UsageSay a speed freak.
Similaraddict, user, druggie, abuser, fiend
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8
nouncolloquialeuphemistic
A milder form of fuck. People say “not give a freak” when they do not care at all.
She doesn't give a freak about the dress code.
Why should I give a freak about his opinion?
UsageUse about before the person or thing: I don't give a freak about their opinions.
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9
huge musclesnouncountable
A person with muscles much bigger than normal, often a bodybuilder who weighs over 260 pounds.
At the bodybuilding show, the last freak to walk on stage got the loudest cheer.
The freaks at the contest had arms as thick as my legs.
UsageOutside the gym, people may hear it as an insult.
Similarmonster, beast
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10
wild dancenoun
A wild way of dancing.
The music started and we all got our freak on.
She showed her little brother how to do the freak at the party.
UsagePeople say get your freak on: we got our freak on.
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11
sudden ideanoundatedcountable
A sudden idea or change of mind that comes for no clear reason.
And then, with heart more hard than stone, He pick'd my marrow from the bone. To vex me more, he took a freak To slit my tongue and make me speak: But, that which wonderful appears, I speak to eyes, and not to ears.
1724, Jonathan Swift, On a PenHere, freak means a sudden idea or whim that comes without warning.
Similarwhim, caprice, fancy, vagary, whimsy
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12
streak of colornoundatedcountable
A line or patch of a different color.
Similarvein
13
add streaksverbdatedtransitive
To mark something with lines of different colors.
Thin lines of red freak the white petals of this tulip.
Freakt with many a mingled hue.
a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Winter”Here, freakt means marked with streaks or patches of different colors.
Similarstreak, fleck, dapple, mottle, vein
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14
nounarchaic
A man, especially a brave and strong one.
15
noundialectalScotlandUK
A man, often a young one who sulks and gets upset easily.

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Origin

No one is sure where it comes from. It may be related to an Old English word meaning "to leap, dance".

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The word's origin is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org
A possible origin connects it with Old English frīcian, meaning 'to leap, dance'. en.wiktionary.org