Word
chronic
Phoneticschron·ic, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹɑnɪk/
UK/kɹˈɒnɪk/
Definitions
01long-lasting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
adj. continuing for a long time or happening again and again.
adj. persisting over a long period of time or constantly recurring. Often used to describe medical conditions or systemic social problems.
日本語:慢性的※
“My grandfather suffers from chronic back pain that makes it hard for him to walk.”
“The region faces a chronic shortage of clean water, a crisis that has been exacerbated by several years of record-breaking drought.”
Pitfall
He has a chronic pain in his leg today.
He has an acute pain in his leg today.
Use 'chronic' for long-term issues. For a sudden, sharp, or short-term problem, use 'acute'.
Synonyms
02habitual
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. doing something bad as a habit that is hard to stop.
adj. inveterate or habitual in behavior, typically regarding a negative trait or condition.
Español:crónico
“He is a chronic liar who cannot be trusted even with small details.”
“The department was plagued by chronic underperformance, largely due to a lack of clear leadership and accountability.”
03very bad
C1 · Advanced British English · Informal
adj. of very poor quality; terrible.
adj. extremely bad, intense, or of poor quality.
“The service at that restaurant was absolutely chronic, so we left without eating.”
“The weather during our holiday was chronic, with relentless rain and wind that kept us indoors for the entire week.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “chronic” in context.
Verb
01. address chronic unemployment
“The government launched a new initiative to address chronic unemployment in industrial regions.”
verb + adj + noun
02. alleviate chronic symptoms
“New medications have been developed to help alleviate chronic symptoms in asthma patients.”
verb + adj + noun
03. suffer from chronic fatigue
“Many patients who suffer from chronic fatigue find it difficult to maintain a full-time job.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
Adjective
04. becoming increasingly chronic
“The budget deficit is becoming increasingly chronic, threatening the country's long-term stability.”
adv + adj
05. chronic back pain
“After the accident, he struggled with chronic back pain that required daily physical therapy.”
adj + noun
06. chronic housing shortage
“The city is facing a chronic housing shortage that has driven rents to record highs.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. chronic condition
“Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management and monitoring.”
adj + noun
08. chronic offender
“The judge decided on a harsher sentence because the defendant was a chronic offender.”
adj + noun
09. chronic stress
10. chronic conditions
11. chronic pain
Real-World Examples
“Chronic exposure to even low levels of PFAS has been linked to liver damage, high cholesterol, reduced immune responses, low birth weights and several kinds of cancer.” “Parent-carers of disabled children are exposed to chronic levels of extreme stress and often reach crisis point before help is available – then they face a ‘fight for basic support’, experts say.” Etymology
From chronical, from Old French cronike, from Latin chronicus, from Ancient Greek χρονικός (khronikós, “of time”), from χρόνος (khrónos, “time”). By surface analysis, chron- + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/chronic
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0