stress
gb/stɹˈɛs/ us/stɹˈɛs/
B1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
Mental or emotional pressure
A feeling of worry or pressure because of problems or hard situations.
Usage pattern:
to be under [stress]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'stress' with 'stressed'. 'Stress' is the noun, 'stressed' is the adjective.
Synonyms
pressure (Often interchangeable, but 'pressure' can also refer to external demands rather than the emotional response.)
Antonyms
relaxation (The absence of mental or emotional strain.)
Collocations
reduce stress
|cope with stress
|manage stress
|stress level
|under stress
Themes
emotions
|health
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt a lot of stress before the big exam.
- Work-related stress can affect your health.
- Meditation helps reduce stress levels.
- He’s under stress because of the tight deadline.
Learner examples
- I feel stress before tests.
- Stress can make you tired.
- He has stress at work.
- She is under a lot of stress.
Verb
B1
action
2
Emphasize something strongly
To say or show that something is very important.
Usage pattern:
to stress [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'stress about' instead of 'worry about'. 'Stress' as a verb usually takes a direct object meaning 'emphasize'.
Synonyms
emphasize (Generally interchangeable, though 'emphasize' is slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
downplay (To make something seem less important.)
Collocations
stress the importance
|stress a point
|stress repeatedly
Themes
communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher stressed the importance of arriving on time.
- He stressed that safety was their top priority.
- She stressed the need for more funding.
Learner examples
- My boss stressed the need to be on time.
- The coach stressed practice every day.
- She stressed that homework is important.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
Physical force on a material
A push or pull on something that can change its shape.
Synonyms
strain ('Strain' refers to the deformation itself, while 'stress' is the force causing it.)
Antonyms
relief (In engineering, reduction or removal of applied force.)
Collocations
tensile stress
|compressive stress
|shear stress
Themes
science
|engineering
|technology
Examples
- The bridge was designed to withstand high levels of stress.
- Metal fatigue occurs when a material experiences repeated stress.
- Engineers calculated the stress on the beam.
Learner examples
- The metal broke from too much stress.
- Stress can bend metal.
- We measure stress in a lab.
Noun
B2
property
4
Emphasis in speech or writing
Extra force given to part of a word or sentence when speaking.
Synonyms
accentuation ('Accentuation' is more formal and used mainly in linguistics.)
Antonyms
monotone (Speech without emphasis or variation in pitch.)
Collocations
word stress
|sentence stress
|place stress on
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In English, the stress is usually on the first syllable of nouns.
- She placed stress on the last word for effect.
- Changing the stress can change a word's meaning.
Learner examples
- In this word, the stress is on the first part.
- We learn about word stress in class.
- Sentence stress can change meaning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stress
IPA
GB/stɹˈɛs/
US/stɹˈɛs/
Syllables & stress
stress (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stress)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: stress
- Plural: stress, stresses
Verb
- Base: stress
- 3rd Person Singular: stresses
- Present Participle: stressing
- Past: stressed
Word family
Forms
stresses
noun
stressing
verb
stressed
verb
Core family
stressful
adjective B1
Related words
stressor
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unstressed
adjective
Advanced or less common
stressfully
adverb C1
Expressions
lay stress on
1/lˈeɪ stɹˈɛs ˈɔn/
fixed phrase
formal
Emphasize something important
To say something is important and should be noticed.
Examples
- The report lays stress on safety procedures.
- He laid stress on the need for teamwork.
reduce stress
1/ɹɪdˈus stɹˈɛs/
fixed phrase
Lower mental strain
To make feelings of worry or tension less strong.
Examples
- Exercise can help reduce stress.
- Meditation is a good way to reduce stress.
stress out
1/stɹˈɛs ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
informal
Make someone feel stressed
To make someone feel worried or tense.
Examples
- Don't stress me out before the meeting.
- Exams always stress him out.
under stress
1/ˈʌndɚ stɹˈɛs/
fixed phrase
Experiencing mental strain
Feeling worried or tense because of problems or hard situations.
Examples
- She works well even under stress.
- People make mistakes when they are under stress.