Word
vicarious
Phoneticsvi·car·i·ous, stress on the second syllable
US/vaɪˈkɛɹiəs/
UK/vɪkˈeəɹɪəs/
Definition
adj. experienced by watching or reading about someone else rather than doing it yourself. You feel these emotions through another person's actions.
adj. experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person. Often describes pleasure or excitement felt by one person when they see someone else succeed.
Examples
“She gets a vicarious thrill from watching her daughter win races.”
“Many people enjoy travel documentaries because they provide a vicarious experience of visiting places they might never see in person.”
“The novelist's greatest gift was her ability to evoke a vicarious sense of adventure, allowing readers to inhabit the lives of explorers from the safety of their own homes.”
Examples
simple
“She gets a vicarious thrill from watching her daughter win races.”
contextual
“Many people enjoy travel documentaries because they provide a vicarious experience of visiting places they might never see in person.”
complex
“The novelist's greatest gift was her ability to evoke a vicarious sense of adventure, allowing readers to inhabit the lives of explorers from the safety of their own homes.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'thrill', 'pleasure', or 'satisfaction'.
Real-World Examples
“If you have ever watched a frightening movie which seemed so real, you felt a physical sensation in your own body if the characters on screen were hurt, you could be experiencing a phenomenon known as vicarious pain.” “Engelbert and DeGeorgey have both sought therapy to help them handle the vicarious trauma of this work and developed new protocols to protect their colleagues from similar suffering.” “Like the lives of the rich and famous today, they offered endless fascination and vicarious excitement.” “The pleasure of watching ''Dynasty'' and ''Dallas'' and ''Falcon Crest'' was voyeuristic; the pleasure of watching ''Knots Landing'' was vicarious.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin vicārius (“vicarious, substituted”), 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
In Music
Cover shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Vicarious · 2006 · Progressive metal
- Artist:
- Tool
- Album:
- 10,000 Days
Progressive metal band Tool explores the darker side of human nature in this 2006 hit. The title refers to the way people experience excitement or tragedy through the safety of a television screen rather than living it themselves. It serves as a critique of modern society's obsession with watching others suffer.
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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