# trapped

/ˈtɹæpt/ (US) · /tɹˈæpt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trapped
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physically stuck

adjective · CEFR B1

stuck in a place and unable to get out.

For teachers: physically confined or caught in a space or device from which escape is impossible.

- The hikers were trapped in the cave for three hours until help arrived.
- Emergency crews worked for hours to reach the passengers who remained trapped inside the wreckage following the derailment.

### 2. stuck in a situation

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling like you cannot change a bad situation or job.

For teachers: experiencing a sense of stagnation or despair due to an inability to alter one's circumstances.

- He felt trapped in his office job and dreamed of starting his own business.
- Many individuals in the study reported feeling trapped by their mounting debt, which led to significant psychological distress and a loss of agency.

## Examples

- He felt trapped in a job that he hated.
- Many people feel trapped by their financial debts, which prevents them from making healthy changes in their lives.
- The patient described a persistent sensation of being trapped within her own anxiety, unable to engage with the external world despite recognizing that her fears were irrational.

---

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.