ENGLISH
REFERENCE

drained

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdɹeɪnd// UK //dɹˈeɪnd// drained

v. feeling very tired and having no energy left. You use this when you are physically or mentally exhausted after a long day or a difficult task.

v. depleted of physical or mental energy; exhausted. Often used to describe the state of a person after intense exertion or emotional stress.


SIMPLE

I felt completely drained after the three-hour exam.

CONTEXTUAL

Working double shifts all week left the medical staff feeling emotionally and physically drained.

COMPLEX

By the end of the marathon, his physical reserves were so drained that he had to rely entirely on mental fortitude to cross the finish line.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From drain + -ed.

Usage

Commonly follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'look', or 'become'.

Pitfall

I am very drainingI am very drainedLearners often confuse the -ed adjective (how you feel) with the -ing adjective (the thing that makes you feel that way).

© 2026 English Reference