chronic
gb/kɹˈɑnɪk/ us/kɹˈɑnɪk/
B2
English
~ 5000
krónikus, megrögzött
B2
1
krónikus
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is chronic
She has been suffering from chronic back pain for years.
Évek óta krónikus hátfájással küzd.
The city has a chronic shortage of affordable housing.
A városban krónikus a megfizethető lakások hiánya.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition.
Chronic stress can harm your overall health.
The region faces chronic water shortages.
Learner examples
He has chronic headaches.
Krónikus fejfájása van.
The city has a chronic lack of jobs.
A városban krónikus a munkahelyhiány.
My uncle has a chronic heart problem.
Chronic pain makes it hard to sleep.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'chronic' with 'acute'; 'chronic' means long-lasting, not necessarily severe at the start.
Meaning
Lasting for a long time
Collocations
chronic illness
|chronic pain
|chronic disease
|chronic condition
|chronic problem
Synonyms
persistent (Emphasizes continuing existence, not necessarily medical)
|
long-term (Focuses on the duration rather than frequency)
Antonyms
acute (Refers to a condition with a sudden onset and short duration)
Themes
health
|time
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Happening for a long time and not stopping, often about sickness or problems.
Continuing or recurring over a long period of time, often used to describe illnesses or problems.
B2
INFORMAL
2
megrögzött
B2
Usage pattern:
a chronic [problem/habit/complainer/etc.]
He's a chronic procrastinator who never finishes anything on time.
Megrögzött halogató, soha semmit sem fejez be időben.
She's a chronic gossip, always spreading rumors.
Megrögzött pletykás, mindig pletykákat terjeszt.
Their chronic tardiness is frustrating the whole team.
Learner examples
He is a chronic smoker.
Megrögzött dohányos.
She is a chronic complainer.
Megrögzött panaszkodó.
My friend is a chronic late person.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning only applies to illnesses; in informal use it can apply to habits or people too.
Meaning
Habitually bad or serious
Collocations
chronic liar
|chronic complainer
|chronic lateness
Synonyms
habitual (More formal and neutral; describes repeated behavior)
|
inveterate (Formal and literary; implies deeply rooted habit)
Antonyms
occasional (Happens sometimes but not regularly)
Themes
daily life
|character
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
Used to talk about someone or something that is always bad or causing trouble.
Used informally to describe someone or something that is habitually bad, problematic, or annoying.
Grammar
Dictionary form
chronic
IPA
GB/kɹˈɑnɪk/
US/kɹˈɑnɪk/
Syllables & stress
chron - ic (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (chron)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: chronic
Word family
Core family
chronically
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
acute
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
chronicity
noun
Expressions
chronic condition
1/kɹˈɑnɪk kəndˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
Long-term medical condition
A health problem that continues for a long time or happens again and again.
Examples
- Asthma is considered a chronic condition.
- She manages her chronic condition with regular check-ups.
chronic pain
1/kɹˈɑnɪk pˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
Ongoing long-term pain
Pain that lasts for a long time and does not go away easily.
Examples
- He takes medication daily to manage his chronic pain.
- Chronic pain can seriously affect quality of life.
chronic illness
1/kɹˈɑnɪk ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Long-lasting illness
An illness that stays for a long time and usually cannot be cured completely.
Examples
- Diabetes is a chronic illness that requires daily care.
- Diabetes is a common chronic illness affecting millions worldwide.
- Living with a chronic illness can be challenging.
- She was diagnosed with a chronic illness in her twenties.