variants
or less commonly psyche
psyched; psyching
1
2
a
: to anticipate correctly the intentions or actions of : outguess
b
: to analyze or figure out (something, such as a problem or course of action)
… I psyched it all out by myself and decided …—
David Hulburd
David Hulburd3
a
: to make psychologically uneasy : intimidate, scare
… pressure doesn't psych me …—Jerry Quarry
—often used with outJerry Quarryhas a way of psyching out the competition
b
: to make (someone, such as oneself) psychologically ready especially for performance
—often used with up
psyched herself up for the race
variants
or psycho-
1
: mind : mental processes and activities
psychodynamic
psychology
2
: psychological methods
psychoanalysis
psychotherapy
3
: brain
psychosurgery
4
: mental and
psychosomatic
Examples of psych in a Sentence
Verb
He was trying to psych himself before the race.
Recent Examples on the Web
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
18 Feb. 2026
That might mean donning an apron to psych yourself into becoming your most confident cook, adding garnishes when things feel lackluster and poking out your pinkie finger to remind yourself not to take things so seriously.
—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
The moment before rehearsal is where all of the unknowns exist and the feat of the climb can psych you out.
—
Tomi Obaro,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2024
One of the more laugh-out-loud funny scenes of the series is this moment where Maya’s character is in a bathroom just before an interrogation and makes the most absurd face in the mirror to psych herself up.
—
Mikey O'Connell,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for psych
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Verb
The Vulnerability Of Being On Camera Many executives psych themselves out about being on camera.
—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
18 Feb. 2026
That might mean donning an apron to psych yourself into becoming your most confident cook, adding garnishes when things feel lackluster and poking out your pinkie finger to remind yourself not to take things so seriously.
—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
The moment before rehearsal is where all of the unknowns exist and the feat of the climb can psych you out.
—
Tomi Obaro,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2024
One of the more laugh-out-loud funny scenes of the series is this moment where Maya’s character is in a bathroom just before an interrogation and makes the most absurd face in the mirror to psych herself up.
—
Mikey O'Connell,
The Hollywood Reporter,
2 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for psych
Cite this Entry
“Psych.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psych. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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