stress

Worry and pressure you feel when life is difficult or you have too much to do.

• Work causes him a lot of stress.
• Exercise helps me deal with stress.
• Have you been under stress recently?

How to use it: under stress (She has been under stress since changing jobs.)

Similar words: strain, pressure, tension

Common phrases: under stress, work stress, stress at work, reduce stress

Physical force on a body or object that can damage it or make it change shape.

• Running puts stress on your knees.
• The metal cracked under stress.
• Engineers measured the stress on the bridge.

How to use it: put stress on something (Heavy bags put stress on your shoulders.)

Similar words: strain, pressure

Common phrases: stress on something, under stress, physical stress

Extra importance or attention given to a particular idea or subject.

• The school puts stress on teamwork.
• Too much stress was placed on exam results.
• Her speech gave particular stress to the need for safety.

How to use it: place/put stress on something (The course places stress on practical skills.)

Similar words: emphasis, importance

Common phrases: stress on something, place stress on, put stress on, particular stress

Extra force given to a syllable, word, or musical note so it stands out.

• Put the stress on the first syllable.
• Changing the stress can change the meaning.
• The singer added stress to the final note.

How to use it: stress on a syllable/word (The stress falls on the second syllable.)

Similar words: accent, emphasis

Common phrases: word stress, sentence stress, stress on something, primary stress

To make clear that something is important and deserves attention.

• I must stress the need for care.
• The teacher stressed that practice was essential.
• They have repeatedly stressed the importance of safety.

How to use it: stress that… (She stressed that everyone must arrive on time.); stress the importance of something (The doctor stressed the importance of regular exercise.)

Similar words: emphasize, underline, highlight

Opposites: downplay

Common phrases: stress the importance, stress a point, stress the need

To say a syllable or word, or play a note, with extra force so it stands out.

• Stress the first syllable.
• She stressed the final note of the tune.
• Which part of this word should I stress?

Similar words: accent, emphasize

Common phrases: stress a syllable, stress a word, stress a note, stress certain words