weak
gb/wˈik/ us/wˈik/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Lacking physical strength
Not having much physical power or energy.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is weak
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'weak' with 'week' because they sound the same.
Synonyms
feeble (Slightly more formal and can suggest fragility.)
Antonyms
strong (Describes having great physical power or ability.)
Collocations
physically weak
|too weak
|weak muscles
|feel weak
Themes
health
|daily life
|sports
|body
Examples
- After the flu, she felt too weak to stand.
- He was weak from hunger and exhaustion.
- The patient is still too weak to walk alone.
Learner examples
- I feel weak after running.
- He is too weak to lift the box.
- My legs are weak today.
adjective
B1
property
2
Lacking determination or courage
Not able to make strong decisions or show courage.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is weak
Synonyms
timid (Suggests shyness or fearfulness more than lack of resolve.)
Antonyms
determined (Shows firm decision and strong will.)
Collocations
weak character
|weak will
|too weak to resist
Themes
emotions
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He was too weak to stand up to his boss.
- They accused the leader of being weak in negotiations.
- She is not weak; she just chooses kindness.
Learner examples
- He is weak and cannot say no.
- The man is too weak to fight back.
- I am not weak. I can do it.
adjective
A2
property
3
Not strong in force or effect
Not strong or powerful.
Usage pattern:
[something] is weak
Synonyms
faint (Often used for sounds, lights, or smells that are barely noticeable.)
Antonyms
strong (Having great force, intensity, or effect.)
Collocations
weak signal
|weak light
|weak current
Themes
science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The flashlight's beam was weak.
- We received only a weak signal from the radio tower.
- The medicine had a weak effect on the symptoms.
Learner examples
- The light is weak in this room.
- I hear a weak sound from far away.
- The phone has a weak signal here.
adjective
B1
property
4
Poor in quality or effectiveness
Not very good, strong, or effective.
Usage pattern:
[something] is weak
Synonyms
poor (General term for low quality without specifying cause.)
Antonyms
strong (Convincing, effective, or high in quality.)
Collocations
weak argument
|weak performance
|weak excuse
Themes
education
|arts
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The lawyer gave a weak defense of his client.
- Her essay was well-written but had a weak conclusion.
- That's a weak excuse for being late.
Learner examples
- The story is weak and boring.
- He gave a weak answer to the question.
- The team played a weak game.
adjective
A2
property
5
Lacking strong flavor or concentration
Not having much taste or not strong in flavor.
Usage pattern:
[drink/food] is weak
Synonyms
watery (Suggests excessive dilution with water.)
Antonyms
strong (Having a lot of flavor or concentration.)
Collocations
weak coffee
|weak tea
|weak drink
Themes
food and drink
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- This coffee is too weak for my taste.
- He prefers his tea very weak.
- The soup was bland and weak.
Learner examples
- The tea is weak and not tasty.
- I like strong coffee, not weak coffee.
- This juice is weak and has little flavor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
weak
IPA
GB/wˈik/
US/wˈik/
Syllables & stress
weak (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (weak)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: weak
- Comparative: weaker
- Superlative: weakest
Word family
Expressions
go weak at the knees
1/ɡˈoʊ wˈik ˈæt ðə nˈiz/
idiom
informal
Feel shaky from emotion or attraction
To feel your legs shake because you are afraid, nervous, or in love.
Examples
- She went weak at the knees when she saw him smile.
- Public speaking makes me go weak at the knees.
on weak ground
1/ˈɔn wˈik ɡɹˈaʊnd/
idiom
In a poorly supported position
To be in a situation where your reasons are not strong enough.
Examples
- Legally, they are on weak ground with this claim.
- He realized he was on weak ground and changed the subject.
weak link
1/wˈik lˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
Least strong part of group/system
The person or thing in a group that is not as good as the others and may cause problems.
Examples
- The goalkeeper was the team's weak link.
- A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
weak point
1/wˈik pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
Area of least strength or ability
A part of something that is not good or strong.
Examples
- Her inability to delegate is her biggest weak point.
- We need to find the enemy's weak point before attacking.