short on energy

3.5

Feeling tired and weak

idiom

: sin energía

Many people are short on energy when they don't get enough sleep.

Examples

I'm feeling short on energy today.
I always feel short on energy after a busy week at work.
He was short on energy during the final miles of the marathon.
After the long meeting, she was short on energy.
After running the marathon, I was short on energy and needed a rest.
She felt short on energy after staying up late to finish her project.
The team was short on energy during the final game of the season.

Synonyms

tired

vsshort on energy

∞ 1.0

Needing rest or sleep because you have little energy

is a milder state of low energy or depleted vitality

exhausted

vsshort on energy

104 2.0

Very tired and completely used up for a person or thing after using all energy

describes low energy but not necessarily complete or utter depletion

anemic

vsshort on energy

24 5.7

Weak and showing little strength or energy

describes low energy in everyday contexts rather than medical weakness or pallor

worn out

vsshort on energy

23 2.9

Feeling very tired and having no energy

means general lack of energy, not long term damage or permanent ruin

frazzled

vsshort on energy

Informal

16 4.0

Very tired and stressed from too much work or worry

suggests plain low energy without the added stress or worry component

lethargic

vsshort on energy

15 5.3

Being very tired and slow with little interest or energy

refers to low energy but not necessarily low interest or motivation

fatigued

vsshort on energy

13 4.1

Feeling very tired and having no energy

covers mild low energy rather than severe depletion of strength or function

knackered

vsshort on energy

3 8.5

Feeling very tired and having no energy

means general low energy without the strong informal or colloquial tone

running on empty

vsshort on energy

Informal

3 7.0

Very tired and having no energy or fuel left

expresses low energy but not total lack of reserves or fuel

dead on one's feet

vsshort on energy

Informal

2 7.1

Very tired after hard physical or mental work

indicates general low energy rather than collapse from intense effort

overtired

vsshort on energy

2 3.4

Too sleepy to relax or fall asleep

describes low energy but not the excess that stops proper rest

washed-out

vsshort on energy

Informal

1 5.1

Being very tired and without energy

refers to low energy generally, not faded appearance or lack of color

enervated

vsshort on energy

Formal

1 7.6

Feeling very weak and having little energy

focuses on general low energy rather than emphasis on physical weakening

sluggy

vsshort on energy

1 7.8

Feeling slow and without energy

means general low energy rather than mainly slow movement or motion

laggy

vsshort on energy

1 6.8

Feeling slow and without energy after being tired or ill

indicates low energy broadly, not only slowness after travel or sickness

anergic

vsshort on energy

9.1

Feeling very tired and unable to do much

describes low energy more broadly, not specifically inactivity or listlessness

wearied

vsshort on energy

3.4

Feeling very tired after hard physical or mental effort

is about general lack of energy, not only tiredness from effort

drained

vsshort on energy

3.4

Feeling very tired with no energy left

says simply low energy without implying total emptiness of reserves

perishingly tired

vsshort on energy

Informal

7.9

Very low on energy and unable to do much

expresses low energy in general rather than hyperbolic extreme exhaustion

wilted

vsshort on energy

3.7

Feeling weak and tired as if you do not have energy

is about low energy more generally, not loss of will or spirit

Antonyms

energetic

93 1.6

Full of energy and active

How Energetic

vigorous

87 4.1

energetic

93 1.6

alert

137 3.5

short on energy

3.5

tired

∞ 1.0

exhausted

104 2.0

Surface Forms

short on energy positive

Morphology

short + on + energy

The meaning 'lacking energy' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'short' (insufficient) with 'energy' in the familiar pattern 'short on X' meaning 'lacking X'. This construction is a transparent, compositional adjective + preposition + noun pattern that is common and likely inferable by a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Short on energy creates an easy picture: imagine a battery that is almost empty. If the battery is short of power and has little energy, then saying someone is short on energy means they feel 'tired' and have little strength.