What is sweat? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of sweat

sweatnoun

mồ hôi, đổ mồ hôi

/swɛt/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>sweat</b>

Where does the word sweat come from?

The word "sweat" has its roots in Old English. The term "swætan" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*swaitiz," which is also the source of the Modern German word "schwitzen." This Proto-Germanic word is thought to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*sweid-", which meant "to wet" or "to radiate." In Old English, "swætan" referred to the act of sweating or producing sweat, as well as the sweat itself. Over time, the spelling evolved to "sweat," and the word gained its modern meaning. Today, "sweat" can refer to the bodily secretion that occurs when we exercise, are hot, or experience other forms of physical activity, as well as the verb meaning to produce this secretion.

Vocabulary summary sweat

typenoun

meaningsweat

examplewet with sweat

exampleby the sweat of one's brow

meaning"Sweat" (water drops on glass doors, walls...)

meaningsweating; sweating

examplenightly sweats: night sweats

examplea sweat will do him good

typejournalize

meaningsweat

examplewet with sweat

exampleby the sweat of one's brow

meaningto ooze, to ooze (like sweat)

meaningwork hard, work hard

examplenightly sweats: night sweats

examplea sweat will do him good

Example of vocabulary sweatliquid on skin

meaning

drops of liquid that appear on the surface of your skin when you are hot, ill or afraid

  • beads of sweat
  • She wiped the sweat from her face.
  • By the end of the match, the sweat was pouring off him.
  • Their bodies were soaked in sweat.
meaning

the state of being covered with sweat

  • I woke up in a sweat.
  • She completed the routine without even working up a sweat.
  • He breaks out in a sweat just at the thought of flying.
  • He started having night sweats.

Example of vocabulary sweathard work

meaning

hard work or effort

  • Growing your own vegetables sounds like a lot of sweat.
  • She achieved success by the sweat of her brow (= by working very hard).
  • A lot of sweat has gone into producing this.

Example of vocabulary sweatclothes

meaning

a sweatsuit or sweatpants

  • I hung around the house all day in my sweats.

Synonyms and related words for sweat

Idioms of vocabulary sweat

be/get in a sweat (about something)
to be/become anxious or frightened about something
    blood, sweat and tears
    very hard work; a lot of effort
    • The only way to succeed is through old-fashioned blood, sweat and tears.
    break sweat
    (informal)to use a lot of physical effort
    • He hardly needed to break sweat to reach the final.
    • She beat me without even breaking (a) sweat.
    no sweat
    (informal)used to tell somebody that something is not difficult or a problem when they thank you or ask you to do something
    • ‘Thanks for everything.’ ‘Hey, no sweat!’
    • Well, he could answer that one straight off, no sweat!

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