A craze is a sudden, intense enthusiasm for something that spreads rapidly through a group or society, then usually fades away. When fidget spinners became a craze a few years ago, it seemed like every kid had to have one. Within months, they were everywhere. Then, just as quickly, the craze died down and fidget spinners ended up forgotten in drawers.

Crazes can involve toys, games, fashion, dances, or even ways of talking. The hula hoop created a massive craze in the 1950s. Pokémon cards, certain hairstyles, slang phrases: each has had its moment as a craze. What makes something a craze rather than just popularity is the sudden, almost frenzied quality. Everyone seems to want it or do it right now.

As a verb, craze can mean to make someone feel mentally disturbed or to make them act wildly, though this meaning is less common today. You might see it in older books, or in phrases like “crazed with fear.”

Crazes reveal something interesting about human nature: we like being part of what's happening and sharing experiences with others. Most crazes are harmless fun, even if they seem silly looking back. That fidget spinner gathering dust in your desk? It's a small piece of history, a reminder of when everyone was caught up in the same brief excitement.