stress

1 of 2

noun

ˈstres 

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 collapse

—Joseph 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

: accent sense 5a

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

Synonyms

Noun

• pressure
• strain
• tension

Verb

• bother
• fear
• fret
• fuss
• stew
• sweat
• trouble
• worry

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

But in the new research, the Jefferson Lab physicists are instead mapping the proton’s gravitational influence—namely, the distribution of energies, pressures, and shear stresses throughout, which bend the space-time fabric in and around the particle. —Charlie Wood, WIRED, 14 Apr. 2024

Armas doesn’t want to put too much stress into whether matches are home or away. —Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024

Giordano also recommended doing some mobility work, such as stretching, and using a foam roller or percussive therapy to decrease stress on the tissue and optimize recovery. —Tiffany Ayuda, Health, 13 Apr. 2024

Here are recommendations from experts to reduce financial stress during tax season while still getting your return done by the deadline: Financial stress can happen all year long. —Adriana Morga, Quartz, 13 Apr. 2024

The stress can be compounded for families in metro Atlanta, where many people rely on cars to get around. —Sharon Johnson, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2024

But that could also add stress to the financial sector and in turn destabilize the economy. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

Statistically, the experts said, such failures are more likely to happen in ports and harbors, as well as in close proximity to bridges, because that’s when the ships are under the most stress. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

These prom captions for Instagram will remove any post-prom posting stress. —Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2024

Verb

But, Kishida stressed, Japan was ready to share the United States’ burden. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2024

This condition is more likely to occur in serious athletes who stress their arms, like tennis players or baseball pitchers. —Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

Audits Find Sheriff’s Records Are Sloppy May 13, 2003 Mayor R. Rex Parris said Lancaster’s lawsuit aims to hold the county accountable, but stressed that the city still supports the sheriff’s deputies who patrol its streets. —Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024

When you’re stressed, your PsA symptoms can get worse. —Ashley Abramson, SELF, 10 Apr. 2024

McDonald stressed that her office is not done trying to prevent gun violence in Oakland County and that there’s more to do to stop gun violence in the community. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024

Okolo stressed that Tavion obeyed all of the officer’s commands yet was still shot. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

Human Ancestors Must Have Co-Existed With Dinosaurs Preserving the Fossil Record The study stresses the importance of measures that would help preserve the outcrops so that the fossil record in the area can be maintained. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

This communal gesture aboard a flight where normally people keep to themselves, are brisk and stressed. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing stress

• anti-stress
• de-stress
• lay great stress/emphasis on
• lay/put stress on
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• sentence stress
• storm and stress
• stress ball
• stress fracture
• stress incontinence
• stress management
• stress mark
• stress test
• under stress
• word stress

Kids Definition

stress

1 of 2 noun

ˈstres 

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

: accent entry 1 sense 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

ˈstres 

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