- [uncountable, countable] pressure or worry caused by problems in somebody’s life or by having too much to do
- emotional/mental stress
- to suffer from stress
- to relieve/reduce/alleviate stress
- under stress Things can easily go wrong when people are under stress.
- The incident has caused enormous stress and anxiety to my family.
- We all sometimes struggle with the stresses and strains of daily life.
- How can we help young people cope with the stress of exams?
- stress-related illnesses
- stress management (= dealing with stress)
- The release of the stress hormone cortisol is part of the human stress response.
- Stress is often a factor in the development of long-term sickness.
- Few of us can understand the stresses of a job where an everyday mistake can cost lives.
Collocations Diet and exerciseDiet and exerciseWeight- put on/gain/lose weight/a few kilos/a few pounds
- watch/control/struggle with your weight
- be/become seriously overweight/underweight
- be/become clinically/morbidly obese
- achieve/facilitate/promote/stimulate weight loss
- slim down to 70 kilos/(British English) 11 stone/(especially North American English) 160 pounds
- combat/prevent/tackle/treat obesity
- develop/have/suffer from/struggle with/recover from anorexia/bulimia/an eating disorder
- be on/go on/follow a crash/strict diet
- have/suffer from a negative/poor body image
- have/develop a positive/healthy body image
- eat a balanced diet/healthily/sensibly
- get/provide/receive adequate/proper nutrition
- contain/get/provide essential nutrients/vitamins/minerals
- be high/low in calories/fat/fibre/protein/vitamin D/Omega-3 fatty acids
- contain (no)/use/be full of/be free from additives/chemical preservatives/artificial sweeteners
- avoid/cut down on/cut out alcohol/caffeine/fatty foods
- stop/give up/ (especially North American English) quit smoking
- (British English) take regular exercise
- do moderate/strenuous/vigorous exercise
- play football/hockey/tennis
- go cycling/jogging/running
- go to/visit/ (especially North American English) hit/work out at the gym
- strengthen/tone/train your stomach muscles
- contract/relax/stretch/use/work your lower-body muscles
- build (up)/gain muscle
- improve/increase your stamina/energy levels/physical fitness
- burn/consume/expend calories
- be/get/keep/stay healthy/in shape/(especially British English) fit
- lower your cholesterol/blood pressure
- boost/stimulate/strengthen your immune system
- prevent/reduce the risk of heart disease/high blood pressure/diabetes/osteoporosis
- reduce/relieve/manage/combat stress
- enhance/promote relaxation/physical and mental well-being
Synonyms pressurepressurestress ▪ tension ▪ strainThese are all words for the feelings of worry caused by the problems in somebody’s life.pressure difficulties and feelings of worry that are caused by the need to achieve something or to behave in a particular way:see also post-traumatic stress disorder- She was unable to attend because of the pressures of work.
- stress-related illnesses
- nervous tension
- I found it a strain looking after four children.
- to be under pressure/stress/strain
- considerable pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to cause stress/tension/strain
- to cope with the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to relieve/release the pressure/stress/tension/strain
- to be suffering from stress/tension
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsa2- An overcrowded workplace can be a major source of stress.
- He's been under a lot of stress lately.
- Parenting under stress can be extremely difficult.
- The scholarship will allow her to focus on study without the stress of worrying about money
- I was signed off work with stress (= suffering from stress).
- Many workers experience a high level of stress in their daily life.
- Physical exercise is a great stress reliever.
- Separation is a time of high emotional stress.
- Staff are encouraged to go on stress management courses.
- The high mortgage payments put them under severe financial stress.
- The program helps workers with work-related and family stress.
- There are many things an employer can do to ease employees' stress.
- Tiredness is one of the most common symptoms of stress.
- an illness brought on by stress
- compensation claims for undue stress in the workplace
- high stress levels
- the daily stress of teaching
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- extreme
- great
- …
- level
- cause
- create
- avoid
- …
- bring something about
- bring something on
- cause something
- …
- level
- control
- management
- …
- under stress
- a source of stress
- a symptom of stress
- [uncountable, countable] physical pressure put on something that can damage it or make it lose its shape
- stress on something When you have an injury you start putting stress on other parts of your body.
- Little is known about the effects of water stress on plants.
- The building was condemned because of the damage caused by excessive heat stress.
- Different organisms react differently to environmental stress (= damage to the environment caused by human activity or natural events).
- a stress fracture of the foot (= one caused by such pressure)
Extra ExamplesTopics Physics and chemistryb2- Avoid exercise that puts undue stress on the knees.
- Cycling puts very little stress on the joints.
- Engineers calculated the stresses borne by each of the bridge supports.
- He was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot.
- Some woods warp under stress.
- Standing all day puts stress on your feet.
- Stress is applied to the wood to make it bend.
- The buttresses are subjected to constant stress.
- The majority of sports injuries are due to excessive mechanical stress on joints, ligaments and muscles.
- The movements set up stresses in the earth's crust.
- The tower exerts an enormous stress on the walls.
- There is equal stress on all parts of the structure.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- high
- low
- …
- exert
- set up
- apply
- …
- fracture
- stress on
- under stress
- [uncountable, countable] (phonetics) an extra force used when pronouncing a particular word or syllable
- We worked on pronunciation, stress and intonation.
- stress on something There's a stress on the second syllable.
- In ‘strategic’ the stress falls on the second syllable
Wordfindersee also primary stress, secondary stressExtra ExamplesTopics Languagea2- Where does the stress fall in ‘psychological’?
- The first syllable takes the stress.
- Mark the primary stress in each word.
- Italian words usually have the main stress on the penultimate syllable in the word.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- main
- major
- primary
- …
- carry
- have
- take
- …
- fall
- go
- pattern
- stress on
- [uncountable] stress (on something) special importance given to something
- She lays great stress on punctuality.
- I think the company places too much stress on cost and not enough on quality.
Extra Examples- There's been a lot of stress on getting drug sellers off the streets.
- a study of child development, with the stress on acquisition of social skills
- I must lay great stress on the need for secrecy.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- enormous
- great
- particular
- …
- lay
- place
- put
- …
- with the stress on
- stress on
- [uncountable, countable] extra force used when making a particular sound in music
- [uncountable] illness caused by difficult physical conditions see also heat stress
mental pressure
physical pressure
on word/syllable
emphasis
in music
illness
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting hardship or force exerted on a person for the purpose of compulsion): shortening of distress, or partly from Old French estresse ‘narrowness, oppression’, based on Latin strictus ‘drawn tight’, past participle of stringere ‘tighten, draw tight’.
Check pronunciation:
stress