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stressed

adj.
US //ˈstɹɛst// UK //stɹˈɛst// stressed
  1. 1 worried or anxious (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    feeling very worried or tired because you have too much work or too many problems.

    experiencing mental or emotional strain resulting from demanding circumstances.

    Example

    He felt very stressed about his job interview and couldn't sleep.

    Example

    Many employees reported feeling increasingly stressed as the merger deadline approached and the workload doubled overnight.
    Pitfall
    The exam was very stressed.
    The exam was very stressful.

    Use 'stressed' to describe how a person feels. Use 'stressful' to describe the situation that causes the feeling.

  2. 2 emphasised sound (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical

    describes a part of a word that you say more loudly or clearly than the others.

    bearing a linguistic accent or emphasis within a word or phrase.

    Example

    In the word 'apple', the first part is the stressed syllable.

    Example

    Learners often struggle with English rhythm because they fail to distinguish between stressed and unstressed syllables in rapid speech.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun it describes, such as 'stressed syllable'.
    • unstressed
Word family

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