weak
gb/wˈik/ us/wˈik/
A2
Anglais
~ 2100
Sens
0 sens
adjective
A2
property
1
Lacking physical strength
Not having much physical power or energy.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is weak
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'weak' with 'week' because they sound the same.
Synonymes
feeble (Slightly more formal and can suggest fragility.)
Antonymes
strong (Describes having great physical power or ability.)
Collocations
physically weak
|too weak
|weak muscles
|feel weak
Thèmes
health
|daily life
|sports
|body
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is weak
Synonymes
timid (Suggests shyness or fearfulness more than lack of resolve.)
Antonymes
determined (Shows firm decision and strong will.)
Collocations
weak character
|weak will
|too weak to resist
Thèmes
emotions
|personality
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is weak
Synonymes
faint (Often used for sounds, lights, or smells that are barely noticeable.)
Antonymes
strong (Having great force, intensity, or effect.)
Collocations
weak signal
|weak light
|weak current
Thèmes
science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] is weak
Synonymes
poor (General term for low quality without specifying cause.)
Antonymes
strong (Convincing, effective, or high in quality.)
Collocations
weak argument
|weak performance
|weak excuse
Thèmes
education
|arts
|core_vocabulary
|work
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Schéma d’usage :
[drink/food] is weak
Synonymes
watery (Suggests excessive dilution with water.)
Antonymes
strong (Having a lot of flavor or concentration.)
Collocations
weak coffee
|weak tea
|weak drink
Thèmes
food and drink
|food_drink
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- This coffee is too weak for my taste.
- He prefers his tea very weak.
- The soup was bland and weak.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The tea is weak and not tasty.
- I like strong coffee, not weak coffee.
- This juice is weak and has little flavor.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
weak
API
GB/wˈik/
US/wˈik/
Syllabes et accentuation
weak (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (weak)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: weak
- Comparative: weaker
- Superlative: weakest
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- Her inability to delegate is her biggest weak point.
- We need to find the enemy's weak point before attacking.