mad

Angry or annoyed about someone or something.

• Don't get mad.
• She was mad at her brother.
• Why are you so mad about this?

How to use it: mad at someone (Are you mad at me?); mad about something (He was mad about the extra charge.)

Similar words: angry, annoyed, cross

Opposites: calm

Common phrases: mad at someone, mad about something, get mad

Unable to think or behave normally because of serious mental illness.

• They thought he was mad.
• The prisoner feared he was going mad.
• In the novel, a mad king hears imaginary voices.

How to use it: go mad (The story describes a king who goes mad.)

Similar words: insane, mentally ill

Opposites: sane

Common phrases: go mad, mad king, stark mad

Liking someone or something very much.

• I'm mad about jazz.
• He's always been mad about her.
• Are your children mad about football too?

How to use it: mad about someone/something (My sister is mad about horses.); mad for something (He's mad for anything with chocolate in it.)

Similar words: crazy about, keen on, passionate about

Common phrases: mad about someone, mad about something, mad for something

Very strange, surprising, or hard to believe.

• That's a mad idea!
• The whole situation seems mad.
• It's mad that she won twice in one week.

How to use it: it is mad that… (It's mad that we both chose the same hotel.)

Similar words: crazy, bizarre, incredible

Common phrases: mad idea, absolutely mad, mad that

In a negative phrase, used to say you like or approve of something.

• I'm not mad at this cake.
• That jacket is bright, but I'm not mad at it.
• Honestly, I'm not mad about the result.

How to use it: not mad at something (The new design is unusual, but I'm not mad at it.)

Common phrases: not mad, mad at it, mad about it