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stress

[ stres ]

/ strɛs /

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See synonyms for: stress / stressed / stresses / stressing on Thesaurus.com

noun

importance attached to a thing: to lay stress upon good manners.

Phonetics. emphasis in the form of prominent relative loudness of a syllable or a word as a result of special effort in utterance.

Prosody. accent or emphasis on syllables in a metrical pattern; beat.

emphasis in melody, rhythm, etc.; beat.

the physical pressure, pull, or other force exerted on one thing by another; strain.

Mechanics.

the action on a body of any system of balanced forces whereby strain or deformation results.
the amount of stress, usually measured in pounds per square inch or in pascals.
a load, force, or system of forces producing a strain.
the internal resistance or reaction of an elastic body to the external forces applied to it.
the ratio of force to area.

Physiology. a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.

physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension: Worry over his job and his wife's health put him under a great stress.

a situation, occurrence, or factor causing this: The stress of being trapped in the elevator gave him a pounding headache.

Archaic. strong or straining exertion.

verb (used with object)

to lay stress on; emphasize.

Phonetics. to pronounce (a syllable or a word) with prominent loudness: Stress the first syllable of “runner.” Stress the second word in “put up with.”Compare accent (def. 18).

to subject to stress or strain.

Mechanics. to subject to stress.

verb (used without object)

to experience stress or worry: Don't stress about the turkey; I promise it will be delicious.Dad is always stressing out over his job.

OTHER WORDS FOR stress

1 significance, meaning, emphasis, consequence; weight, value, worth.

8 anxiety, burden, pressure, oppression; effort, exertion, struggle, strain.

See synonyms for stress on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of stress

First recorded in 1275–1325; (noun) Middle English stresse, aphetic variant of distresse; (verb) derivative of the noun; see origin at distress

OTHER WORDS FROM stress

stressless, adjectivestress·less·ness, nounan·ti·stress, adjectivede-stress, verb (used with object)

non·stress, nouno·ver·stressed, adjectivere·stress, verbun·der·stress, nounun·der·stress, verb (used with object)well-stressed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH stress

accent, stress

Other definitions for stress (2 of 2)

-stress

a feminine equivalent of -ster: seamstress; songstress.

Origin of -stress

-st(e)r + -ess

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WORDS THAT USE -STRESS

What does -stress mean?

The form -stress is a suffix that marks a feminine agent noun, which indicates a person who does an action. This suffix is occasionally used in a variety of informal terms, but it has lost popularity in recent years. Increasingly, -stress is seen as an unnecessarily gendered suffix for forming agent nouns because it identifies the “doer” as female.

The suffix -stress is a combination of two similar suffixes: Old English -estre, which marked female agent nouns, and Old French -esse (see -ess), a common feminine ending for nouns.

What are variants of -stress?

When agent nouns ending in -stress are used to refer to a masculine- or neutral-gendered element, -stress becomes -ster, as in seamster (a male seamstress).

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -ster article.

Examples of -stress

A term that features the suffix -stress is songstress, “a female singer, especially one who specializes in popular songs.”

The song- part of the word here refers to the tunes that are sung. The suffix -stress denotes a female agent, or “doer,” and songstress therefore literally means “female singer of songs.”

What are some words that use the suffix -stress?

What are some other forms that -stress may be commonly confused with?

Not every word that ends with the letters -stress is necessarily using the suffix -stress to denote a female agent noun. Some words that end with -stress, such as mistress, are still reserved (though not without due criticism) for women. However, other words, such as distress and its derivative stress, share the letters -stress purely as a coincidence.

Break it down!

A seamster is a person whose occupation is sewing. Given what you know about the meaning of -stress, what is a seamstress?

How to use stress in a sentence

Obsessive exercising and inadequate nutrition can, over time, put people at high risk for overuse injuries like stress fractures.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, cops are under stress and tension (though their jobs are far less dangerous than normally supposed).
We Need Our Police to Be Better Than This|Nick Gillespie|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nor do these studies address the structural and systematic issues that contribute to obesity, such as poverty and stress.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail|Carrie Arnold|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It also means not having to stress about cleaning out your DVR.
Four TV Shows We Can’t Wait to Return In 2015|DISH|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Moreover, trucks, dust, and boomtown stress are the effects of any large-scale industrial activity.
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Feeling himself irresistibly driven by the sudden stress to some kind of action, he sprang to his feet—and screamed!
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
This description is only imperfect in this point that sufficient stress is not laid on the words fall off.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
Although many British actors and musicians were participants in this theater, it often suffered from financial stress.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
They looked over the parapet because that method was more sure and quick, and the stress of the battle was great.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
It is not necessary to repeat the outlines of his political attitude during the storm and stress of Wallace's memorable struggle.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison

British Dictionary definitions for stress (1 of 2)

stress

/ (strɛs) /

noun

special emphasis or significance attached to something

mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension

emphasis placed upon a syllable by pronouncing it more loudly than those that surround it

such emphasis as part of a regular rhythmic beat in music or poetry

a syllable so emphasized

physics

force or a system of forces producing deformation or strain
the force acting per unit area

verb

(tr) to give emphasis or prominence to

(tr) to pronounce (a word or syllable) more loudly than those that surround it

(tr) to subject to stress or strain

informal (intr) to become stressed or anxious

Derived forms of stress

stressful, adjectivestressfully, adverbstressfulness, noun

Word Origin for stress

C14: stresse, shortened from distress

British Dictionary definitions for stress (2 of 2)

-stress

suffix forming nouns

indicating a woman who performs or is engaged in a certain activitysongstress; seamstress Compare -ster (def. 1)

Word Origin for -stress

from -st (e) r + -ess

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for stress

stress

[ strĕs ]

The force per unit area applied to an object. Objects subject to stress tend to become distorted or deformed. Compare strain. See also axial stress shear stress. See more at Hooke's law.

A physiologic reaction by an organism to an uncomfortable or unfamiliar physical or psychological stimulus. Biological changes result from stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, including a heightened state of alertness, anxiety, increased heart rate, and sweating.
The stimulus or circumstance causing such a reaction.

Cultural definitions for stress (1 of 2)

stress

In physics, the internal resistance of an object to an external force that tends to deform it.

Cultural definitions for stress (2 of 2)

stress

A physical factor, such as injury, or mental state, such as anxiety, that disturbs the body's normal state of functioning. Stress may contribute to the development of some illnesses, including heart disease and cancer.

notes for stress

The term stress also refers to the physical and mental state produced in the body when it is influenced by such factors: “The stress of the new job was too much for Tim, so he requested reassignment to his old position in the company.”

stress

OTHER WORDS FOR stress

Origin of stress

OTHER WORDS FROM stress

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH stress

Other definitions for stress (2 of 2)

Origin of -stress

WORDS THAT USE -STRESS

What does -stress mean?

Examples of -stress

Break it down!

Words related to stress

How to use stress in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stress (1 of 2)

Derived forms of stress

Word Origin for stress

British Dictionary definitions for stress (2 of 2)

Word Origin for -stress

Scientific definitions for stress

Cultural definitions for stress (1 of 2)

Cultural definitions for stress (2 of 2)

notes for stress