agonise
gb/əɡˈɑnɪs/ us/əɡˈɑnɪs/
C1
English
tépelődik, szenved, megszenved
VERB
C1
1
tépelődik
B2
Usage pattern:
agonise (over/about) [something] | agonise over whether [clause]
She agonised over whether to accept the job offer.
Sokáig tépelődött azon, hogy elfogadja-e az állásajánlatot.
I spent all night agonising about what I should say.
Egész éjjel azon tépelődtem, hogy mit kellene mondanom.
Don’t agonise over every tiny mistake.
Learner examples
He agonised over the decision.
Sokat tépelődött a döntésen.
I am agonising about my exam results.
A vizsgaeredményeim miatt tépelődöm.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse UK spelling (agonise) with US spelling (agonize).
Meaning
worry intensely for a long time
Collocations
agonise over a decision
|agonise over what to do
|agonise over whether to [verb]
|agonise over every detail
|agonise about money
|agonise about the future
|agonise for days
|agonise for hours
|agonise endlessly
|agonise over it
Synonyms
worry (More general and less intense.)
|
fret (Suggests smaller, repeated worries.)
|
brood (Focuses on thinking gloomily for a long time.)
|
obsess (Suggests persistent, hard-to-stop thinking.)
Antonyms
relax (Stop feeling anxious and tense.)
|
be calm (Not anxious or troubled.)
|
decide (Reach a choice rather than keep worrying.)
Themes
emotions
|decisions
|daily_life
Definition
to worry a lot about something, especially a decision
To think about something in an anxious, troubled way for a long time, especially when deciding what to do.
VERB
C1
2
szenved
B1
Usage pattern:
agonise in/with [pain]
He lay on the floor, agonising with stomach pain.
A földön feküdt, és a gyomorfájdalomtól szenvedett.
She was still agonising after the operation wore off.
Még mindig szenvedett, miután elmúlt az érzéstelenítő hatása.
The runner was agonising with cramps near the finish.
Learner examples
My back hurts and I am agonising in pain.
Fáj a hátam, és nagyon szenvedek.
Common mistake:
Often used intransitively; use 'be in agony' or 'suffer' rather than trying to make it a direct object verb (*agonise someone) in everyday English.
Meaning
suffer extreme physical pain
Collocations
agonise in pain
|agonise with pain
|agonise for hours
|agonise for days
|agonise with cramp
|agonise with toothache
|agonise with a migraine
|agonise with an injury
|lie agonising
|agonise silently
Synonyms
suffer (Broader; not necessarily as intense.)
|
be in agony (Common phrase for very severe pain.)
|
writhe (Emphasises physical twisting from pain.)
Antonyms
feel fine (Have no pain or distress.)
|
be comfortable (Feel physically at ease.)
Themes
health
|pain
|emotions
Definition
to feel very strong pain
To experience severe physical pain or distress.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
3
megszenved
B2
Usage pattern:
agonise to [verb] | agonise through [something]
The team agonised to a 2–1 victory in extra time.
A csapat hosszabbítás után nagy szenvedések árán 2–1-re győzött.
She agonised through the final weeks of training.
Megszenvedte az edzés utolsó heteit.
They agonised for months to keep the business alive.
Common mistake:
This sense is more literary; in everyday speech, 'struggle' or 'fight to' is more natural.
Meaning
struggle intensely to do something
Collocations
agonise to reach an agreement
|agonise to the finish
|agonise through a difficult year
|agonise through the last minutes
|agonise for survival
|agonise under pressure
Synonyms
struggle (More neutral and much more common.)
|
battle (Suggests ongoing determined effort against difficulty.)
|
fight (Emphasises active resistance and determination.)
Antonyms
sail through (Do something easily, without difficulty.)
|
breeze through (Finish quickly and easily.)
Themes
effort
|emotions
|work
Definition
to try very hard and suffer while doing it
To struggle very hard, often mentally and emotionally, to achieve something or to cope with a difficult situation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
agonise
IPA
GB/əɡˈɑnɪs/
US/əɡˈɑnɪs/
Syllables & stress
ag - on - ise (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (on)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: agonise
- 3rd Person Singular: agonises
- Present Participle: agonising
- Past: agonised
Word family
Expressions
agonise about
1/əɡˈɑnɪs əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
worry anxiously about something
to worry a lot about something
Examples
- She kept agonising about what her boss thought of her.
- I’m not going to agonise about it anymore.
- He agonised about the cost for weeks.
Learner examples
- Don’t agonise about it.
agonise over
1/əɡˈɑnɪs ˈoʊvɚ/
fixed phrase
worry a lot about something
to worry about something for a long time
Examples
- He agonised over the right words for the apology.
- They agonised over whether to move abroad.
- Stop agonising over it and make a plan.
Learner examples
- I agonised over my decision.