Words / B2

di-STRES/dɪˈstres/

Distress is great pain, sadness, or difficulty, or a danger state: in distress; a ship in distress; distress call. Stress (already in the dictionary) is pressure; distress is the suffering. Counsellors for students in distress. Adjective: distressed. Do not use distress for a mildly busy week.

Meaning

Great pain, sadness, or difficulty; also serious danger (a ship in distress).

Examples

• “A counsellor is on site for students in distress after results.”
• “The lifeboat answered a distress call, which is the maritime sense.”

Good to know

in distress; a distress signal / call. Related: stress (pressure). Adjective: distressed. Care and emergency register. Uncountable in many emotional uses.

New