freak1 nounfreak2 adjectivefreak3 verb
freakfreak1 /friːk/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINfreak1
Origin:
1500-1600 Perhaps from Old English frician ‘to dance’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Her husband's a control freak - he won't let her leave the house without him.
- If people can't put you into a category, they tend to just think of you as a freak.
- One Beatle's freak is reported to have paid $18,000 for Paul McCartney's birth certificate.
- Raw vegetables and nuts have always been a favourite with health-food freaks.
- The guy is probably just some freak who saw her on TV and decided he loves her.
- A brawler this is, an alley fighter, a hopped-up offensive gone freak.
- And Magruder really was a card-carrying bicycle freak who had even ridden his 10-speed to the White House every day.
- By some freak of the acoustics his name seemed to echo round and round the chamber.
- Jeez, they didn't have to put her in with a freak.
- Some bosses are control freaks, while others are too unclear about what they want and need from you.
- The combine freaks pop up every year.
- There were no obvious freaks, transvestites, monsters or exotic creatures.
- What was I doing consorting with these freaks?
Longman Language Activatorsomeone who likes something very much
someone who likes a particular sport, team, or famous entertainer very much: · Thousands of fans came to hear Oasis play.· a football fanfan of: · Fans of Sylvester Stallone will enjoy this movie.
someone who likes a particular activity very much: music/car/wine/animal etc lover: · We are a nation of animal lovers.· Every jazz lover dreams of visiting New Orleans.lover of: · Lovers of night life won't be able to resist the many nightclubs in the area.
someone who likes a subject, activity, performer etc very much, is very interested in them and knows a lot about them: · Enthusiasts are willing to pay up to $12,000 for an original copy of the book.football/film/jazz etc enthusiast: · Golf enthusiasts will be able to see the tournament live on TV.· The exhibition will be of interest to classic car owners and other motoring enthusiasts.
informal someone who is extremely interested in a particular activity, especially when other people think they are a little strange for liking it so much: health/tv/sports etc freak: · Raw vegetables and nuts have always been a favourite with health-food freaks.· One Beatle's freak is reported to have paid $18,000 for Paul McCartney's birth certificate.
informal someone who does, eats, watches etc something a lot because they enjoy it so much that they cannot stop doing it - use this especially when you do not think someone should be spending so much time doing or being involved in a particular thing: TV/news/fast food etc junkie: · If you're a shopping junkie, then this is the channel for you!· You'd have to be a real political junkie to remember that Tsongas won the New Hampshire Primary in 1992.TV/news/fast food etc addict: · My sons and my husband are all football addicts.
formal someone who likes something such as art or literature very much and spends a lot of their time and money on it: · He's a devotee of old Hollywood movies.· Urquhart, a rich devotee of the arts, made generous donations to the museum.
a strange person informal someone who is very strange in an unpleasant and sometimes threatening way: · There's a weirdo who stands in front of the store and talks to himself.· When I travel by underground I always seem to end up sitting next to some weirdo.
informal a strange person: · Most of my family's OK, but my brother's a bit of an oddball.· Growing up, most of the other kids considered me an oddball.
informal a very strange person, especially one who behaves oddly and has strange ideas: · The guy is probably just some freak who saw her on TV and decided he loves her.control/neat/fast food etc freak: · Her husband's a control freak - he won't let her leave the house without him.
British someone who other people think is strange, especially because they have beliefs, aims, or habits that are thought to be very unusual or too extreme: · Vegetarians were once regarded as cranks.· Call me a crank, but I think the world was a lot better before mobile phones came along.
words for describing someone who always likes to keep things tidy someone who is neat or tidy always like to keep things in their right place: · I've never been very neat but my husband is just the opposite.· Malcolm's always been tidy, even as a kid.
British someone, especially a woman, who is houseproud wants their home to always look extremely clean and tidy, and spends a lot of time keeping it like this: · She has a reputation for being very houseproud.· Elaine's houseproud ways got on his nerves, but it was better than living alone.
American spoken someone who always wants their things and their house to be very neat and clean, in a way that other people find annoying: · Melissa is a neat freak and Doug is kind of a slob, so the two of them are always fighting.
WORD SETSaerobic, adjectiveafterbirth, nounalgae, nounalimentary canal, nounamber, nounameba, nounamino acid, nounamoeba, nounanaconda, nounanaerobic, adjectiveandrogynous, adjectiveantibody, nounantigen, nounantitoxin, nounappendage, nounarm, nounarmour, nounasexual, adjectiveassimilation, nounatrophy, verbaviary, nounbacteria, nounbacteriology, nounbarnacle, nounbile, nounbinocular vision, nounbio-, prefixbiochemistry, nounbiodegradable, adjectivebiodiversity, nounbiohazard, nounbiological, adjectivebiological clock, nounbiology, nounbiomass, nounbiome, nounbiosphere, nounblind, nounbrain, nounbreathe, verbbreed, verbbreed, nounbreeding, nounbristle, nounbulb, nouncapsule, nouncarbohydrate, nouncarbon dioxide, nouncarnivore, nouncell, nouncellular, adjectivecellulose, nouncentral nervous system, nouncervical, adjectivecholesterol, nounchromosome, nouncirculation, nouncirculatory, adjectiveclass, nounclone, nouncold-blooded, adjectiveconceive, verbconch, nounconnective tissue, nouncopulate, verbcoral reef, nouncornea, nouncoronary, adjectivecorpuscle, nouncortex, nouncortisone, nouncowrie, nouncrab, nouncrawfish, nouncrayfish, nouncreature, nouncross, verbcrossbreed, nounculture, nouncytoplasm, noundecay, verbdecay, noundecompose, verbdefecate, verbdenizen, noundextrose, noundiaphragm, noundigest, verbdigestion, noundigestive, adjectiveDNA, noundorsal, adjectivedry rot, nounduct, noundwarf, noundwarf, adjectiveecological, adjectiveecology, nounecosystem, nounegg, nounejaculate, verbembryo, nounembryonic, adjectiveenzyme, nounepidermis, nounevolution, nounevolutionary, adjectiveexcrement, nounexcrescence, nounexcrete, verbexcretion, nounexhale, verbexoskeleton, nounextinction, nounfaeces, nounfamily, nounfang, nounfat, nounfatty acid, nounfauna, nounfeces, nounfeed, verbfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferment, verbferment, nounfertile, adjectivefertility, nounfertilize, verbfission, nounflank, nounflatulence, nounflesh, nounfleshy, adjectiveflightless, adjectiveflora, nounfoetal, adjectivefoetus, nounfoliage, nounfossil, nounfreak, nounfreshwater, adjectivefructose, noungamete, nounganglion, noungene, noungene pool, noungenera, genetic, adjectivegenetic code, noungenetic engineering, noungenetic fingerprinting, noungenetics, noungenome, noungenus, noungestation, noungland, nounglandular, adjectiveglucose, noungluten, noungonad, noungrass snake, noungrow, verbgrowth, nounhabitat, nounhaemoglobin, nounhearing, nounheart, nounhemisphere, nounherbivore, nounhereditary, adjectiveheredity, nounhermaphrodite, nounhibernate, verbhistamine, nounhoming, adjectivehormone, nounhost, nounimpregnate, verbimpulse, nounincubate, verbindigenous, adjectiveinfected, adjectiveinfertile, adjectiveinfest, verbingest, verbinhale, verbinseminate, verbinsensate, adjectiveinsulin, nounintegument, nounintercourse, nouninterferon, nounintestine, nouninvertebrate, nouninvoluntary, adjectiveiris, nounjaw, nounjelly, nounkidney, nounkrill, nounlactate, verblactation, nounlactic acid, nounleech, nounleg, nounlesser, adjectivelichen, nounlife, nounlife cycle, nounlife form, nounligament, nounlimb, nounlimpet, nounlipid, nounliver, nounliving fossil, nounlocomotion, nounlymph, nounlymph node, nounmale, adjectivemale, nounmammal, nounmandible, nounmate, nounmate, verbmembrane, nounmetabolism, nounmetabolize, verbmetamorphosis, nounmicrobe, nounmicrobiology, nounmicroorganism, nounmicroscopic, adjectivemigrate, verbmigratory, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmolar, nounmorphology, nounmotor, adjectivemould, nounmouth, nounmucous membrane, nounmucus, nounmulticellular, adjectivemuscle, nounmuscular, adjectivemutant, nounmutate, verbmutation, nounnatural history, nounnatural selection, nounnature, nounneck, nounnectar, nounnerve, nounnervous, adjectivenervous system, nounneural, adjectiveneuro-, prefixneurology, nounnode, nounnose, nounnostril, nounnucleic acid, nounnucleus, nounnutrient, nounnutriment, nounoesophagus, nounoestrogen, nounolfactory, adjectiveoptic, adjectiveorgan, nounorganic, adjectiveorganic chemistry, nounorganism, nounorifice, nounossify, verbosteo-, prefixoutgrowth, nounova, ovary, nounoverwinter, verboviduct, nounoviparous, adjectiveovulate, verbovum, nounparasite, nounpathogen, nounpedigree, nounpelvic, adjectivepelvis, nounpenile, adjectivepenis, nounpepsin, nounperiod, nounperspiration, nounperspire, verbphotosynthesis, nounphylum, nounpigment, nounpigmentation, nounplankton, nounplasma, nounpollinate, verbpostnatal, adjectivepregnancy, nounpregnant, adjectivepremature, adjectiveprenatal, adjectiveproduct, nounproliferation, nounpropagate, verbprotein, nounprotoplasm, nounprotozoan, nounpuberty, nounpulmonary, adjectivepulp, nounpulsation, nounputrefy, verbputrid, adjectivered blood cell, nounregurgitate, verbrenal, adjectivereproduce, verbreproduction, nounreproductive, adjectiverespiration, nounrespiratory, adjectiverespire, verbretina, nounroot, nounrot, verbrot, nounruff, nounsac, nounsaliva, nounsalivary gland, nounsalivate, verbsaltwater, adjectivescale, nounscallop, nounscaly, adjectivesebaceous, adjectivesecrete, verbsecretion, nounsemen, nounsense organ, nounsensory, adjectiveserum, nounsex, nounsex, verbsexless, adjectivesexual intercourse, nounsheath, nounshell, nounsibling, nounskeletal, adjectiveskeleton, nounskin, nounskull, nounspasm, nounspasmodic, adjectivespecies, nounspecimen, nounsperm, nounspiderweb, nounspinal cord, nounspine, nounspineless, adjectivestarch, nounstem cell, nounstimulate, verbstimulus, nounstrain, nounsubject, nounsubspecies, nounsucker, nounsucrose, nounsweat, verbsweat, nounsweat gland, nounsymbiosis, nounsystemic, adjectivetail, nountaxonomy, nounteeth, testosterone, nountest-tube baby, nountissue, nountrachea, nountube, noununicellular, adjectiveurethra, nounuric, adjectiveurinate, verburine, nounvariety, nounvector, nounvein, nounvenom, nounvenomous, adjectiveventricle, nounvertebra, nounvertebrate, nounvivisection, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewean, verbwildlife, nounwindpipe, nounyolk, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
a fitness freak a religious freak a computer freakCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a fitness freak a religious freak a computer freak (=an unexpected and unusually violent one)· The freak storm caused chaos.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· This action has led to Madonna yet again being portrayed as a ruthless control freak, which she probably is.· When it comes to conniving, deceptive control freaks, ex-boyfriends have nothing on record companies.· Am I a control freak just because I want a little order in my life?· Some bosses are control freaks, while others are too unclear about what they want and need from you.· A self-confessed control freak and workaholic, no-one is allowed in his control room.· It's the designer suits and the $ 100 haircuts and the iron-fisted control freaks along the sidelines.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1 informal someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject so that other people think they are strange or unusual: - Some bosses are control freaks, while others are too unclear about what they want from you.
- Am I a control freak just because I want a little order in my life?
a fitness freak a religious freak a computer freak2someone who is considered to be very strange because of the way they look, behave, or think SYN weirdo: These glasses make me look like a freak. Women who studied engineering used to be considered freaks.3a control freak someone who always wants to control situations and other people4 (also freak of nature) something in nature that is very unusual: Due to some freak of nature, it snowed in June.5an unexpected and very unusual event: By some freak of fate, he walked away from the crash completely unhurt. April’s sales figures were a freak.freak1 nounfreak2 adjectivefreak3 verb
freakfreak2 ●○○ adjective [only before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.
- He broke his leg in a freak training accident.
- Two planes were lifted up and thrown across the tarmac by a freak gust of wind.
- A freak result - nerves - you must have written gibberish.
- Another bicycle, another freak pumpkin, this one weighing perhaps more than Lois.
- Call it a freak accident and, hopefully, be done with it and race on.
- In the same year, as the result of a freak accident in the Alps, Steve's friend Georges Bettembourg perished.
- It turns the symphony into a freak show.
- Thus although a marked increase is apparent in recent years it may prove to be due entirely to three freak movements.
- We maintain more freak religions and cults than all the rest of the world combined.
THESAURUSevents/situations
different from what usually happens: · We had snow in May, which is very unusual.
not happening very often, or existing only in small numbers: · Violent crimes are rare.· Hatton gathered many rare plants from all over the world.
very unusual and happening very rarely: · Ninety-day visas can be extended only in exceptional circumstances.· The presence of a jury in a civil trial is now quite exceptional.
unusual and surprising or special: · It was a small village where nothing out of the ordinary ever seemed to happen.
extremely unusual and unexpected – used about an accident, storm etc: · A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.· Their car was crushed by a tree in a freak accident.
if something is unprecedented, it has never happened before – often used about successes and achievements: · An unprecedented number of students have received top grades.· This kind of deal is unprecedented.
if something is unheard of, it has never happened or been done before – used especially when something seems very surprising to people at that time: · In our small town, this kind of crime was almost unheard of.· unheard-of luxuries such as electric windows and air-conditioning
Longman Language Activatornot what usually happens · We had snow in April, which is very unusual.· She had an unusual last name - Peachtree or Plumtree or something like that.· I first met Maria in unusual circumstances -- we were both stuck in a Brazilian airport.it is unusual to do something · It is unusual to find lakes of this size in Britain.it is unusual for somebody to do something · We were beginning to worry. It was unusual for David to be so late.
something that is extraordinary is very unusual because it would normally be very unlikely to happen or exist: · The man's story was so extraordinary that I didn't know whether to believe him or not.· He said it was an extraordinary decision and would send many industries spinning into recession.an extraordinary thing to do/say/happen: · She left her husband, and in 1912 that was an extraordinary thing to do.quite/most extraordinary British (=very extraordinary): · The whole incident had been quite extraordinary.
an exceptional situation is very unusual and happens very rarely: · A few of the top executives are women, but this is still exceptional.in exceptional circumstances/cases: · Exit visas are only given in exceptional circumstances.
something that is uncommon or not common is unusual because it does not happen very often: · The disease mostly affects older people, and is not common among people under 50.it is uncommon/not common (for somebody) to do something: · It is uncommon for small babies to sleep more than four hours without waking.
spoken say you don't usually see, find, hear etc something when it is very unusual to see it, find it etc: · You don't usually see rabbits of this size.· You don't often get people ringing up in the middle of the night to say they've found a body in the bath.
unusual and surprising or special: · Something out of the ordinary happened to us that night.· The goalkeeper did not have to do anything out of the ordinary to keep his side in the game.
a special occasion, situation, method etc is one that is different from what normally happens, and usually better: · There were special security arrangements for the President's visit.· The prince said he didn't want any special treatment in his new school.special event/occasion: · I would only buy expensive shoes for a special event such as a wedding.· a book of recipes for every day and special occasions tooin special circumstances: · Prisoners are only allowed to visit their families in special circumstances.
: freak accident/storm/conditions etc an accident, storm etc that is very unusual and unexpected: · He broke his leg in a freak training accident.· A freak wave wrecked most of the seafront.· Two planes were lifted up and thrown across the tarmac by a freak gust of wind.
off-beat films, designs, ideas etc are unusual and often seem interesting or humorous because they are so different from the usual ones: · We had some really offbeat ideas for T-shirt designs.· Movies featuring original or offbeat material are rarely big box-office successes.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a freak result He was crushed to death in a freak accident. The men drowned when a freak wave sank their boat.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
unexpected and very unusual: a freak result He was crushed to death in a freak accident. The men drowned when a freak wave sank their boat. (=an unexpected and unusually violent one)· The freak storm caused chaos.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· It had been a freak accident.· Call it a freak accident and, hopefully, be done with it and race on.· In the same year, as the result of a freak accident in the Alps, Steve's friend Georges Bettembourg perished.· Six years ago Stephen Dent was paralysed in a freak accident.· I spent all afternoon full of animosity towards him - and then he died in that freak accident.· Apparently nobody was injured in this freak accident.· Betty beheaded by hotpot ladle in freak accident. 2.· It would appear to everyone that Ewan Famber had died in a freak accident.
· A freak result - nerves - you must have written gibberish.
· Not that this is a freak show.· He was like a freak show at the carnival.· Pull the plug on your freak show, Jerry.· It turns the symphony into a freak show.· Boyle has always liked to play circus barker for life's extremes, and what better freak show than the environmental apocalypse?· Of course they are freak shows.· They'd have put her in the freak show, confessing how misled she was by capitalist gold.
· Chaos struck Llandudno Hospital as the freak storm resulted in incredible scenes of havoc and distress.· On the way home Caledor's ship was separated from the rest of the High Elf fleet by a freak storm.· The yield would be maximum if there were no freak storms.· When Gabriel and she had been a couple they had run into her one day when there had been a freak storm.
· The freak wave broke top to bottom across the entire length of the Bay.· A freak wave overturned the flimsy vessels and they were left floating in the water in their lifejackets.
a freak result He was crushed to death in a freak accident.freak wind/wave/storm etc The men drowned when a freak wave sank their boat.► see thesaurus at unusualfreak1 nounfreak2 adjectivefreak3 verb
freakfreak3 verb [intransitive] informal to become suddenly angry or afraid, especially so that you cannot control your behaviour SYN flip: When Ben heard about the accident, he just freaked.freak out phrasal verb informal to become very anxious, upset, or afraid, or make someone very anxious, upset, or afraid: People just freaked out when they heard the news.freak somebody out The whole idea freaked me out.