What is distress? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of distress in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of distress

distressnoun

phiền muộn

/dɪˈstres//dɪˈstres/

Where does the word distress come from?

The word "distress" has a fascinating history. It originated in the 14th century from the Old French words "des-" meaning "from" and "trestrenger" meaning "to torment". Initially, the word referred to severe physical or mental suffering, often caused by extreme hardship or pain. Over time, the meaning of "distress" expanded to encompass emotional or psychological anguish, as well as a state of crisis or emergency. In modern English, "distress" can describe a range of situations, from physical harm or emotional turmoil to financial or moral crises. Despite its evolution, the core sense of "distress" as a state of intense discomfort or suffering has remained consistent throughout its history.

Vocabulary summary distress

typenoun

meaninggrief, suffering, pain

meaningmisery, poverty, distress

meaningdisaster, danger, peril

examplea signal of distress

typetransitive verb

meaningto grieve, to suffer, to hurt

meaningworry

meaningendure hardship, endure misery

examplea signal of distress

Example of vocabulary distressnamespace

meaning

a feeling of great worry or unhappiness; great mental pain

  • The newspaper article caused the actor considerable distress.
  • She sensed his deep emotional distress.
  • She was obviously in distress after the attack.
meaning

severe problems caused by not having enough money, food, etc.

  • economic/financial distress
  • The charity aims to relieve poverty and distress caused by natural disasters.
meaning

a situation in which a ship, plane, etc. is in danger or difficulty and needs help

  • a distress signal (= a message asking for help)
  • It is a rule of the sea to help another boat in distress.
meaning

a state of physical pain and effort, especially difficulty in breathing

  • The patient was suffering serious respiratory distress.
  • The baby was clearly in distress.

Synonyms and related words for distress

Idioms of vocabulary distress

a damsel in distress
(humorous)a woman who needs help

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