stress

1 of 2

noun

1
: constraining force or influence: such as
a
: a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part
especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch
b
: the deformation caused in a body by such a force
c
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
d
: a state resulting from a stress
especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
job-related stress
e
: strain, pressure
the environment is under stress to the point of collapseJoseph Shoben
2
: emphasis, weight
lay stress on a point
3
archaic : intense effort or exertion
4
: intensity of utterance given to a speech sound, syllable, or word producing relative loudness
5
a
: relative force or prominence of sound in verse
b
: a syllable having relative force or prominence
6

stress

2 of 2

verb

stressed; stressing; stresses

transitive verb

1
: to subject to physical or psychological stress
stressing the equipment
this traffic is stressing me out
2
: to subject to phonetic stress : accent
3
: to lay stress on : emphasize
stressed the importance of teamwork

intransitive verb

: to feel stress
stressing about the big exam
often used with out

Examples of stress in a Sentence

Noun She uses meditation as a way of reducing stress. Hormones are released into the body in response to emotional stress. She is dealing with the stresses of working full-time and going to school. He talked about the stresses and strains of owning a business. Carrying a heavy backpack around all day puts a lot of stress on your shoulders and back. To reduce the amount of stress on your back, bend your knees when you lift something heavy. The ship's mast snapped under the stress of high winds. measuring the effects of stresses on the material Verb The union stressed the need for stricter safety standards. The risks involved in the procedure should be stressed. Some people stress the second syllable of “harassment,” while others stress the first. When she said, “We need lots of money,” she stressed the word “lots.” It's not an important decision and it isn't worth stressing over.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Advocates tout cannabis as an alternative relief for veterans with pain from wounds or post-traumatic stress disorder, but the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits its distribution because it’s still classified by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug with no accepted medical use. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024 Related article 5 ways to reduce your stress this year Exercise is not only a good stress reducer but has also been shown to be a potent aid in quitting smoking, Freeman added. Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 The last thing Miranda needed during this period of stress and fear was responsibility for a dog ready to pick a fight with every stray leaf in his path. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 Many viewers surely couldn’t help but stress as Yabushige’s straw tabis struggled to grip onto the unforgiving terrain. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 For me, that stress was heaped atop lingering grief and my everyday worries. Kayla Blanton, SELF, 19 Mar. 2024 Heat stress is not confined just to humans and animals; plants experience it too, and last summer was one of the worst on record, according to experts at the University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension. Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 16 Mar. 2024 Any loud or inescapable sounds can cause hearing loss, stress, and high blood pressure, the magazine said. The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024
Verb
In a news conference on Thursday, Glendale police spokesman Moroni Mendez stressed the importance of securing firearms in a safe location. The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024 Asked about the uncertainty of Proposition 1’s passage, Newsom stressed the unique aspects of the measure, including its language on housing and drug treatment that differs from the state’s previous mental health legislation, and added that the new measure was not a tax increase. Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 Repeatedly during the interview, Evans stresses that her decision to stay is not meant as a prescription for any relationship facing similar circumstances. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 Councilmembers stressed the importance of preserving some of those pieces as historic artwork. Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024 Robert Nielsen stressed there's still no evidence of a crime. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024 The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America released a statement applauding the announcement from AstraZeneca but stressed there was more work to do. Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Public health researchers stress that studies have found that free needle programs do not increase crime or drug use, or worsen syringe litter. Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 As China marks the 75th anniversary of the Oct. 1, 1949, founding of the People's Republic of China, the party is stressing its determination to fortify its control and protect national security. Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English stresse stress, distress, short for destresse — more at distress

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stress was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stress

Cite this Entry

“Stress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stress. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

stress

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a force that acts when one body or part of a body presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to squeeze or twist another body or part of a body
b
: the change in shape caused in a body by such a force
c
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be involved in causing some diseases
also : a state of tension resulting from a stress
2
: special importance given to something : emphasis, weight
lay stress on a point
3
: relative force or loudness of sound
"finally" has the stress on the first syllable
4
stressless
-ləs
adjective

stress

2 of 2 verb
1
: to subject to physical or emotional stress
stressing the equipment
this traffic is stressing me out
2
: to pronounce with stress
stress the last syllable
3
: emphasize
stressed the importance of teamwork
4
: to feel stress
stressing about the big test

Medical Definition

stress

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part
especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch
b
: the deformation caused in a body by such a force
2
a
: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation
b
: a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium
3
: the force exerted between teeth of the upper and lower jaws during mastication

stress

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to subject to stress
a patient stressed by surgery

More from Merriam-Webster on stress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!