English Reference
Adjective

licked

adj.
C2 Proficiency US /ˈɫɪkt/ UK /lˈɪkt/ licked

adj.tired or defeated. You use this when you feel completely exhausted or when you have lost a fight or competition.

adj.exhausted, worn out, or soundly defeated. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'look' to describe a state of total fatigue or failure.


SIMPLE

After the long hike, I am completely licked.

CONTEXTUAL

The team looked licked after the third goal, losing their energy and focus for the rest of the match.

COMPLEX

He walked into the office looking thoroughly licked, his shoulders slumped from a week of failed negotiations and sleepless nights spent reviewing the contract.

Usage

Typically follows a linking verb; informal or colloquial in tone.

Small flames licked around the base of blackened trees a few metres away as they worked, while in another part of the woods several trees lit up quickly with no warning.

The Guardian· 16 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Frequent
Updated