Top Definitions
Synonyms
Quizzes
Related Content
Examples
British
Medical
Scientific
Cultural

stress

[ stres ]

/ strɛs /

Save This Word!

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.

SYNONYMS 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

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

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

Words nearby stress

streptonigrin, streptosepticemia, streptothricin, streptozocin, Stresemann, stress, stress ball, stressbuster, stressed-out, stress fracture, stressful

Definition 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for stress

These fossils didn’t show the big clusters of dark stress bands.
Ancient Lystrosaurus tusks may show the oldest signs of a hibernation-like state|Susan Milius|September 16, 2020|Science News
In that case, the MRI is a “ghost” of that prior inflammation and stress, she says.
College athletes show signs of possible heart injury after COVID-19|Aimee Cunningham|September 11, 2020|Science News
For one, if you’re a competitive athlete or bodybuilder that regularly puts a lot of stress on your muscles, BCAAs may help your body recover faster so you can train more often.
BCAA supplements can enhance your workout, but should you take them?|Amy Schellenbaum|September 10, 2020|Popular Science
Inspiring to read about the hard work, ongoing learning, and level of stress necessary for greatness.
Book recommendations from Fortune’s 40 under 40 in tech|Rachel King|September 4, 2020|Fortune

Ricardo, upon noticing my incessant micromanagement and stress, said, “As a CEO, you need to be the most incompetent person in the room.”
The advice that helped this year’s 40 under 40 find their own path|kdunn6|September 3, 2020|Fortune
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

Medical definitions for stress

stress

[ strĕs ]

n.

An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.

The resisting force set up in a body as a result of an externally applied force.

A physical or psychological stimulus that can produce mental tension or physiological reactions that may lead to illness.

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.”

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

stress