Word
inflamed
Phoneticsin·flamed, stress on the second syllable
US/ɪnˈfɫeɪmd/
UK/ɪnflˈeɪmd/
Medicine
Definition
adj. red, swollen, and painful because of an infection or injury. You use this to describe a part of your body that feels hot and sore.
adj. characterised by inflammation, typically involving redness, swelling, heat, and pain. Often used predicatively after 'become' or 'look' to describe a physiological response to injury or infection.
Examples
“My throat is inflamed and it hurts to swallow.”
“The skin around the cut became red and inflamed, suggesting that a minor infection had set in.”
“Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants can leave the respiratory passages permanently inflamed, leading to long-term breathing difficulties and decreased lung capacity.”
Examples
simple
“My throat is inflamed and it hurts to swallow.”
contextual
“The skin around the cut became red and inflamed, suggesting that a minor infection had set in.”
complex
“Chronic exposure to environmental pollutants can leave the respiratory passages permanently inflamed, leading to long-term breathing difficulties and decreased lung capacity.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'become', 'look', or 'feel'.
Real-World Examples
“Genicular artery embolization works by reducing blood flow to inflamed areas inside the knee.” 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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