Dictionary.com

psych

1

or psyche

[ sahyk ]
/ saɪk /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR psych ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), psyched, psych·ing.Informal.

to intimidate or frighten psychologically, or make nervous (often followed by out): to psych out the competition.
to prepare psychologically to be in the right frame of mind or to give one's best (often followed by up): to psych oneself up for an interview.
to figure out psychologically; decipher (often followed by out): to psych out a problem.

VIDEO FOR PSYCH

WATCH NOW: Do You Remember This Radical 80s Slang?

When you re-hear to this 80's slang you'll feel like you've been transported back in time. Do you remember these totally 80's words?

MORE VIDEOS FROM DICTIONARY.COM

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

American English is not always as it appears to be ... get to know regional words in this quiz!
Question 1 of 10
A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?
Often it means something is impossible.
It’s another way to agree with someone.
It serves as an apology.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of psych

1
1915–20 in earlier sense “to subject to psychoanalysis”; originally a shortening of psychoanalyze; in later use (especially indefs. 1, 2 ) perhaps independent use of psych-

Words nearby psych

P.SS., psst, PST, PSTN, PSV, psych, psychalgia, psychasthenia, psychataxia, psyche, psychedelia

Definition for psych (2 of 4)

psych2
[ sahyk ]
/ saɪk /

noun Informal.

psychology, especially as a course or field of study: She took two semesters of psych in college.

Origin of psych

2
First recorded in 1890–95; by shortening

Definition for psych (3 of 4)

psych-

variant of psycho- before some vowels: psychasthenia.

Definition for psych (4 of 4)

psych.

psychological.
psychologist.
psychology.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to psych

medicine, attitude, therapy, psyche, mentality, ethos, urge, abet, rouse, arouse, inspire, whip up, motivate, exhort, agitate, inflame, encourage, trigger, prompt, provoke

Example sentences from the Web for psych

British Dictionary definitions for psych

psych

psyche

/ (saɪk) /

verb

(tr) informal to psychoanalyseSee also psych out, psych up

Word Origin for psych

C20: shortened from psychoanalyse
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

Medical definitions for psych

psych-

pref.

Variant ofpsycho-
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.