English Reference

Word

pissed

US/ˈpɪst/

UK/pˈɪst/

Definitions

01angry

B2

adj. very annoyed or angry about something.

adj. extremely annoyed, irritated, or angry. This sense is dominant in American English and often appears as 'pissed off'.

“He was really pissed when he found out they had lied to him.”

“The manager was visibly pissed after the third consecutive delay, though he tried to maintain a professional tone during the briefing.”

American English · Informal · Vulgar

Usage

Often used with 'at' for people or 'about' for situations.

Pitfall

I am pissed with the news.

I am pissed about the news.

In American English, you are usually pissed 'about' a situation or 'at' a person.

Teaching tip

While common in speech, this is considered vulgar by many; students should use 'angry' or 'annoyed' in any professional setting.

Antonyms

02drunk

B2

adj. having drunk too much alcohol.

adj. intoxicated or drunk. This is the primary meaning in British, Irish, and Australian English.

“They got completely pissed at the wedding and couldn't find their way home.”

“By the time the last train arrived, half the passengers on the platform were clearly pissed after the festival.”

British English · Informal · Vulgar

Usage

Commonly modified by 'completely' or 'properly'.

Teaching tip

American speakers will likely misunderstand this as 'angry' unless the context of alcohol is very clear.

Antonyms

Etymology

From Middle English pissed, pissede, pyssyd, pisside, equivalent to piss + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Brahms — pissed

pissed off — Very annoyed, upset, angry.

Scotch mist — pissed

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/pissed

English Reference