# pissed

/ˈpɪst/ (US) · /pˈɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pissed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. angry

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal · Vulgar

very annoyed or angry about something.

For teachers: 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.

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

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

### 2. drunk

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal · Vulgar

having drunk too much alcohol.

For teachers: 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.

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.

## Examples

- She was really pissed when she saw the broken window.
- He was so pissed about the flight delay that he started shouting at the gate agent.
- The staff were understandably pissed after the management announced that the promised holiday bonuses would be replaced by generic gift cards.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.