# systolic

/sɪˈstɔɫɪk/ (US) · /sɪstˈɒlɪk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/systolic
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

relating to the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. It is the higher number in a blood pressure reading.

For teachers: relating to the contraction of the heart, specifically the pressure in the arteries during this phase. Often used in medical contexts to describe the upper value of a blood pressure measurement.

## Examples

- The doctor checked my systolic blood pressure.
- A systolic reading above 140 indicates that the heart is working harder than normal to pump blood through the body.
- While both systolic and diastolic pressures are important, systolic readings are often more predictive of cardiovascular risk in older adults due to the stiffening of arterial walls over time.

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