Main Entry: ¹psych

Variant(s): or psyche \ˈsīk\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): psyched; psych·ing

Etymology: by shortening

Date: 1917

1 : psychoanalyze
2 a : to anticipate correctly the intentions or actions of : outguess b : to analyze or figure out (as a problem or course of action) <I psyched it all out by myself and decided — David Hulburd>
3 a : to make psychologically uneasy : intimidate, scare <pressure doesn't psych me — Jerry Quarry> —often used with out <has a way of psyching out the competition> b : to make (as oneself) psychologically ready especially for performance —often used with up <psyched herself up for the race>