psych

1 of 4

verb

ˈsīk 

variants or less commonly psyche

psyched; psyching

transitive verb

1

: psychoanalyze

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

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 (someone, such as oneself) psychologically ready especially for performance

—often used with up

psyched herself up for the race

psych

2 of 4

abbreviation

psychology

psych-

3 of 4

combining form

variants or psycho-

1

: mind : mental processes and activities

psychodynamic

psychology

2

: psychological methods

psychoanalysis

psychotherapy

3

: brain

psychosurgery

4

: mental and

psychosomatic

psyche

4 of 4

noun

psy·​che ˈsī-kē 

1

Psyche : a princess loved by Cupid

2

[Greek psychē]

a

: soul, personality

… the nation's consumer psyche.

—D. J. Kevles

b

: the totality of elements forming the mind (see mind entry 1 sense 2)

specifically, in Freudian psychoanalytic theory : the id, ego, and superego including both conscious and unconscious components

Did you know?

Sometime back in the 16th century, we borrowed the word psyche directly from Greek into English. In Greek mythology, Psyche was a beautiful princess who fell in love with Eros (Cupid), god of love, and went through terrible trials before being allowed to marry him. The story is often understood to be about the soul redeeming itself through love. (To the Greeks, psyche also meant "butterfly", which suggests how they imagined the soul.) In English, psyche often sounds less spiritual than soul, less intellectual than mind, and more private than personality.

Synonyms of psych

Verb

• brace
• fortify
• ready
• nerve

Noun

• soul
• spirit

Examples of psych in a Sentence

Verb

He was trying to psych himself before the race.

Noun

some hidden corner within your psyche

disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

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

Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo’s shin pads (Molly Darlington – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) For players, shin pads can serve not just as protection but as positive homages to help psych themselves up before a game. —Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Noun

Remember, Venus has everything to do with love, beauty, pleasure, values and money, while Pluto governs obsession, control, transformation, intimacy and the shadowy corners of the psyche. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026

Psyche is a nickel-iron core asteroid that orbits the sun beyond Mars anywhere from 235 million to 309 million miles away. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

by shortening

Combining form

Greek, from psychē breath, principle of life, life, soul, from psychein to breathe; akin to Sanskrit babhasti he blows

Noun

Latin, from Greek psychē soul

First Known Use

Verb

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing psych

• psych-out

Rhymes for psych

• bike
• dike
• hike
• ike
• like
• mike
• pyke
• shrike
• spike
• strike
• tike
• alike

Kids Definition

psych

verb

variants or psyche

ˈsīk

psyched; psyching

1

: to make oneself psychologically ready

—usually used with up

psyched themselves up for the race

2

: to make uneasy

—often used with out

psych out an opponent

Medical Definition

psych

abbreviation

psychology