Word
strung
US/ˈstɹəŋ/
UK/stɹˈʌŋ/
Definition
adj. feeling very nervous, worried, or tense. It describes a state where you are so stressed that you might react strongly to small things.
adj. characterised by extreme nervous tension or emotional strain. Often used as part of the compound 'highly strung' or followed by 'out' to describe a state of exhaustion or agitation.
Examples
“He was so strung out after the long meeting.”
“The team was tightly strung as they waited for the final results of the competition.”
“After weeks of working double shifts without a break, she felt so highly strung that even the sound of a ringing phone made her jump.”
Examples
simple
“He was so strung out after the long meeting.”
contextual
“The team was tightly strung as they waited for the final results of the competition.”
complex
“After weeks of working double shifts without a break, she felt so highly strung that even the sound of a ringing phone made her jump.”
Usage
Typically used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'seem'.
Pitfall
He was very stringed after the exam.
He was very strung after the exam.
Learners often try to use the regular '-ed' ending, but the correct form for this state is the irregular 'strung'.
Real-World Examples
“Perhaps the teeth were once strung into a headband or necklace, the study suggested.” “More than 6,500 years ago, someone carefully drilled a hole in a human tooth, strung it on a cord and likely used it as a necklace.” Idioms
strung out — Prolonged in an unnecessary or time-filling manner.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/strung