Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

stress mark

noun

Definition of stress mark

  1. :  a mark used with (as by being placed before, after, or over) a written syllable in the respelling of a word to show that this syllable is to be stressed when spoken :  accent mark

See stress mark defined for English-language learners

See stress mark defined for kids

Explore Merriam-Webster

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz
image698129811
Different Ways to Say 'Nude'
alt-596f7d8840dd5
Trending: Trend Watch: 'Admiral's Mast' & A Mystery At Sea

First Known Use of stress mark

1888

STRESS MARK Defined for English Language Learners

stress mark

noun

Definition of stress mark for English Language Learners

  • : a mark (such as ˈ or ˌ) used to show the part of a word that should be given greater stress when it is spoken

STRESS MARK Defined for Kids

stress mark

noun

Definition of stress mark for Students

  1. :  a mark used to show what part or syllable of a written word should be stressed when spoken

Learn More about stress mark

  1. See words that rhyme with stress mark

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up stress mark? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

crucible

play

a severe test

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  2. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  3. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

  4. bona fide Made in good faith

  5. surrogate mother From TMZ to the dictionary.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

stress mark

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

alt-596e1a928254c
Words We're Watching: 'Fidget Spinner'

Don't fight the fad

alt-5956722528373
A Nun's 'Habit' & A Mini-Skirt

They have more in common than you might think.

alt-596cccb141873
Our Verdict on 'Judgy'

Will word nerds judge you for this?

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
True or False
True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game