Word
symptom
Phoneticssymp·tom, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪmptəm/
UK/sˈɪmptəm/
Definitions
01medical sign
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a change in your body or mind that shows you are ill, such as a cough or a fever.
n. a physical or mental manifestation of a disease or disorder as perceived by the patient.
“A high temperature and a dry cough are common symptoms of the flu.”
“The patient presented with several neurological symptoms, including persistent dizziness and a loss of coordination in the left hand.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to name the specific illness.
Synonyms
02sign of a problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sign that a bad situation or a larger problem exists.
n. an indicator or characteristic sign of an underlying undesirable condition or social trend.
“The messy office was just a symptom of his busy and stressful life.”
“Economists argue that the rising cost of housing is merely a symptom of a much deeper structural imbalance in the national economy.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “symptom” in context.
Verb
01. exhibit symptom
“Patients who exhibit symptoms of the virus should stay at home and rest.”
verb + noun
02. symptoms include
03. symptoms of anxiety
Etymology
From Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα (súmptōma, “a happening, accident, symptom of disease”), from stem of συμπίπτω (sumpíptō, “Ι befall”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + πίπτω (píptō, “to fall”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/symptom