Word
shirtless
Phoneticsshirt·less
UK/ʃˈɜːtləs/
Definition
adj. not wearing a shirt or any clothing on the top half of the body.
adj. lacking a shirt or upper-body covering. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain'.
Examples
“He is shirtless because it is very hot outside.”
“The lifeguard spent the entire afternoon shirtless while watching the swimmers at the crowded beach.”
“The actor appeared shirtless in several scenes to emphasize the physical transformation he underwent for the role, showcasing a level of fitness that required months of strict dieting.”
Examples
simple
“He is shirtless because it is very hot outside.”
contextual
“The lifeguard spent the entire afternoon shirtless while watching the swimmers at the crowded beach.”
complex
“The actor appeared shirtless in several scenes to emphasize the physical transformation he underwent for the role, showcasing a level of fitness that required months of strict dieting.”
Usage
Typically used as a predicative adjective following a linking verb, though it can also appear attributively before a noun.
Etymology
From shirt + -less.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/shirtless