What does stress mean?
Stress is a versatile word describing both pressure and prominence. As a noun, it can mean mental or emotional strain, physical pressure on a material, or the emphasis placed on a particular word or syllable in speech. As a verb, it means to emphasize an idea or to place someone or something under strain or difficult conditions. People commonly speak of being under stress, managing stress, or experiencing stress-related illness, while speakers may stress a key word to give it greater importance. The word is useful because it links closely related experiences: pressure exerted on a person or object, the tension that can result, and the deliberate emphasis used to direct attention. In everyday English it most often concerns psychological strain, but its technical uses in physics, engineering, linguistics, and phonetics remain important as well.
Mental or emotional strain caused by pressure or demanding circumstances; also, pressure or force applied to a person, object, or structure.
"The long hours at work put him under considerable stress."
The sense involving mental strain is the most common in everyday usage. In technical contexts, the word can refer to physical force or internal strain in a material.
Special emphasis or importance given to a word, syllable, or part of an utterance.
"The speaker placed stress on the final word of the sentence."
In linguistics and phonetics, stress specifically refers to the prominence of a syllable relative to others.
To emphasize or make something seem especially important.
"The advertisement stresses the product's low price."
This use is common in formal and informal contexts, including public speaking, writing, and everyday conversation.
To subject someone or something to strain, pressure, or difficult conditions.
"The bridge was stressed by unusually heavy traffic."
This sense is especially common in technical, engineering, biological, and workplace contexts.
The usual plural of the noun; the final -s is pronounced /ɪz/ in this word.
"Meditation can help people manage the stresses of daily life."
The word stress began with the idea of something being drawn tight, just as a rope under tension becomes strained.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stress come from?
The word entered English through Old French and ultimately derives from Latin forms connected with the verb stringere, meaning to draw or pull tight. Its early development reflects the sense of pressure or strain, and the modern meanings relating to emphasis developed by analogy with the way a syllable or word can be stressed in pronunciation. English cognates such as distress, restrict, constrict, and obstruct preserve related ideas of tightening, drawing, or pressing.
Related word forms
How stress is actually used
Stress is common in both formal and informal English. In the sense of mental strain it often has a negative or concerned connotation, while in the sense of emphasis it means to make something especially prominent. The pronunciation stress for the noun and verb is the same in British and American English.
Easily confused with stress
Stress is broader, referring to mental strain, pressure, or emphasis, while strain more often describes physical tension, injury, or the filtering of a liquid.
Pressure commonly denotes an applied physical force or external influence, whereas stress also refers to the resulting mental or emotional strain.