- 1[transitive] to emphasize a fact, an idea, etc. stress something He stressed the importance of a good education. stress that… I must stress that everything I've told you is strictly confidential. + speech “There is,” Johnson stressed, “no real alternative.” it is stressed that… It must be stressed that this disease is very rare. stress how, what, etc… I cannot stress too much how important this is. word/syllable
- 2[transitive] stress something to give extra force to a word or syllable when saying it You stress the first syllable in “happiness.”
- 3[intransitive, transitive] to become or make someone become too anxious or tired to be able to relax stress out I try not to stress out when things go wrong. stress somebody (out) Driving in cities really stresses me (out). ThesaurusstressemphasizeThese words both mean to give extra force to a syllable, word, or phrase when you are saying it.
- stress to give extra force to a word or syllable when saying it:You stress the first syllable in “happiness.”
- emphasize to give extra force to a word or phrase when saying it, especially to show that it is important:Shylock repeatedly emphasizes the word “bond” in his speech.
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NAmE//strɛs//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they stress he / she / it stresses
past simple stressed
-ing form stressing
Check pronunciation: stress