hysterical

Universal Words adjective 1 in a state of extreme excitement, and crying, laughing, etc. in an uncontrolled way: hysterical screams / laughter * a hysterical giggle * He became almost hysterical when I told him. * Let's not get hysterical. * (disapproving) He thought I was being a hysterical female. 2 (informal) extremely funny: She seemed to find my situation absolutely hysterical. * This book is hysterical. HELPNOTE Some people use an instead of a before this word, and then usually do not pronounce the 'h'. This now sounds old-fashioned. hysterically adverb: to laugh / cry / scream / sob hysterically * hysterically funny