# strung

/ˈstɹəŋ/ (US) · /stɹˈʌŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/strung
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

feeling very nervous, worried, or tense. It describes a state where you are so stressed that you might react strongly to small things.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was very stringed after the exam." but "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'.

## Usage notes

- Typically used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'seem'.

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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.