A tantrum is an explosive outburst of anger and frustration, usually involving yelling, crying, or wild behavior. When a toddler throws a tantrum in a grocery store because they can't have candy, they might scream, kick, and throw themselves on the floor. Young children have tantrums because they haven't yet learned to manage big feelings or express what they need with words.

The word often describes childish behavior, so when older kids or adults throw tantrums, it suggests they're acting immature. If a basketball player screams at a referee and kicks over a chair after a bad call, someone might say he “threw a tantrum on the court.” A classmate who storms out of the room, slamming doors because they didn't get picked for a part in the school play, is having a tantrum.

Tantrums often come from feeling powerless or overwhelmed. A two-year-old doesn't have the vocabulary to say, “I'm tired and hungry and everything feels wrong.” A tantrum about homework might come from feeling stressed, confused, or exhausted.