What does tiredness mean?
Tiredness names the state of being tired: a lack of physical energy, strength, or alertness caused by exertion, inadequate sleep, illness, or similar demands. It can also describe a figurative sense of boredom or unwillingness to participate, as when someone says that a task is filled with tiredness. The word is neutral in register and familiar in both British and American English, although it is usually treated as an uncountable noun. It differs from “fatigue,” which often implies persistent, severe, or medically significant exhaustion, and from “weariness,” which can sound more formal or emphasize patient endurance. Tiredness is also useful as a general category because it covers both physical sensations and emotional attitudes without requiring the user to distinguish them in advance.
nounThe state of being tired, especially as a result of exertion, insufficient sleep, or lack of energy. It can also refer figuratively to a feeling of boredom or unwillingness to engage with something.
- The physical condition of lacking energy, often because of exertion, inadequate sleep, illness, or other strain.
- A figurative feeling of boredom, weariness, or lack of enthusiasm toward an activity or situation.
"A long walk in the heat left him overcome by tiredness."
"Her tiredness disappeared after a good night’s sleep."
"A sense of tiredness settled over the team as the meeting continued without a decision."
Rare and rarely needed; the uncountable singular is normally preferred.
"The survey compared the tirednesses reported by different age groups."
Tiredness can name both the body’s need for rest and the mind’s refusal to become interested.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tiredness come from?
Tiredness was formed by adding the suffix “-ness,” meaning a state or quality, to “tired.” “Tired” is a Middle English word historically connected with Old French tire, meaning “tired” or “weary,” although its ultimate origin is uncertain. The same lexical family includes “tire,” “tiresome,” and “tireless,” which connect the idea of weariness with the condition of being made to stop, the quality of causing boredom, and the absence of fatigue respectively.
How tiredness is actually used
The word is neutral and commonly used in everyday English. It is generally uncountable when referring to the condition, while plural forms are uncommon. “Weariness” is more formal, and “fatigue” often suggests greater severity or a technical or medical context.
Easily confused with tiredness
Tiredness is the general feeling of lacking energy, whereas fatigue usually suggests more persistent or severe exhaustion and often has a medical or technical context.