concussion

noun con·cus·sion \ kən-ˈkə-shən \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: concussion in a Sentence

Definition of concussion

1 a : a stunning, damaging, or shattering effect from a hard blow; especially : a jarring injury of the brain resulting in disturbance of cerebral function

The football player suffered a concussion.

b : a hard blow or collision

2 : agitation, shaking

The concussion from the explosion was felt 12 miles away.

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concussive

play \kən-ˈkə-siv\ adjective

See concussion defined for English-language learners

See concussion defined for kids

Examples of concussion in a Sentence

She suffered a severe concussion after falling on the ice.
He went to hospital with concussion.

Recent Examples of concussion from the Web

If the team can avoid the injuries that hindered progress in 2017, including losing Rogers for three games due to a concussion, a bowl bid may not be out of reach.

— iliana limón romero, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Much improved UNLV is No. 81 in 2018 preseason college football rankings, eyeing bowl bid," 7 June 2018
Taylor confirmed Thursday that Johnson suffered a concussion as a result.

— charlie lapastora, Fox News, "Arizona man who was punched by Mesa Police officers speaks out," 7 June 2018
As a sophomore, Ejiofor led the team with 4 1/2 sacks despite missing five games due to a concussion.

— aaron wilson, Houston Chronicle, "Texans sign sixth-rounder Duke Ejiofor (Alief Taylor)," 11 May 2018
According to the article in JAMA, some victims who were treated in a medical center at the University of Pennsylvania presented a brain trauma similar to a concussion.

— nora gámez torres, miamiherald, "FBI closer to find answers on 'health attacks' in Cuba | Miami Herald," 17 Apr. 2018
Collins also missed time due to a concussion last season.

— cleveland.com, "Cleveland Browns predraft depth chart: Linebacker," 10 Apr. 2018
Perhaps more disturbing is the allegation that several injuries, from neck pain to concussion, had already occurred before Caleb's death.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Kansas City Park knew waterslide that decapitated little boy was deadly, officials say," 25 Mar. 2018
Sanchez, who largely served as a bat off the bench, and Hedges each missed time due to concussions.

— dennis lin, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres spring training primer: Catchers," 5 Feb. 2018
The speakers made an occasional reference to concussions, but almost no one mentioned chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the brain disease linked to repeated head hits that is a far bigger risk to the sport.

— ken belson, New York Times, "Football’s True Believers Circle the Wagons and Insist the Sport Is Just Fine," 30 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'concussion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of concussion

Middle English concussioun, from Latin concussion-, concussio, from concutere to shake violently, from com- + quatere to shake

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

concussion Synonyms

Synonyms

bump, collision, crash, impact, impingement, jar, jolt, jounce, kick, shock, slam, smash, strike, wallop;

bashing, battering, bludgeoning, clobbering, hammering, lambasting, licking, pounding, pummeling (also pummelling), thrashing;

contact, encounter, meeting, touch;

Synonym Discussion of concussion

impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things. impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

- the glass shattered on impact with the floor

collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

- the collision damaged the vehicle

shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

- the shock of falling rocks

concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

- bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

CONCUSSION Defined for English Language Learners

concussion

noun

Definition of concussion for English Language Learners

: an injury to the brain that is caused by something hitting the head very hard ( US ) ( Brit )

CONCUSSION Defined for Kids

concussion

noun con·cus·sion \ kən-ˈkə-shən \

Definition of concussion for Students

: injury to the brain caused by a hard hit on the head

Medical Dictionary

concussion

noun con·cus·sion \ kən-ˈkəsh-ən \

medical Definition of concussion

1 : a hard blow or collision

2 : a condition resulting from the stunning, damaging, or shattering effects of a hard blow; especially : a jarring injury of the brain resulting in disturbance of cerebral function and sometimes marked by permanent damage

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