Skip to main content
stress

stress

1 3.2
The extra loudness or higher pitch on one syllable of a word
  • noun
  • /strɛs/
translation icon : acento
  • When reciting the poem, it is important to place the stress on the word "love" for emotional impact.
  • word stress
  • primary stress
  • lexical stress

Examples

  • The word pharma is a trochee, a two-syllable foot with the stress on the first element.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Syncopated means you're putting the stress and emphasis on a note that's off of the downbeat.

  • Three of the three women read the line with stress on "man," whereas both men did not.

    Academic text (2016)
  • In contrast, in our goal condition, the stress was on the word "goal."

    Academic text (2003)
  • The voice of the teacher should emphasize appropriate stress, pitch, and juncture.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Now, note the slight upward stress on the transversals.

  • For no good reason, the Hyde Pierce sound-alike had put a tiny extra stress on the word "behind."

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Listen to the stress.

  • Finally, we used English stress patterns rather than syllable-timing for all multisyllabic words.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Through language-specific readjustment, nonnative speakers can potentially better approximate native-like stress patterns in L2.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

emphasis
vsstress
  • Specialized
14 3.7

Stress that makes a syllable or musical note stronger

is the specific technical act of marking that prominence in sound
accent
vsstress
13 3.5

Extra force on a syllable or musical note to make it stronger

is the precise phenomenon of that increased force in speech or music
word stress
vsstress
  • Specialized
3.9

Emphasis on one syllable when you say a word with more than one syllable

is broader, covering loudness or higher tone in speech and music
word accent
vsstress
  • Specialized
6.7

The pattern of strong and weak syllables in a word with more than one syllable

focuses on a single syllable or note rather than the whole pattern
accentuation
vsstress
  • Specialized
6.7

Putting extra stress on one syllable or word when speaking

names the actual sound difference produced by that act or process
accenting
vsstress
5.3

To give more attention to one part to make it stand out

refers to the resulting greater loudness or higher tone after that action
pitch accent
vsstress
  • Specialized
8.8

A change in high or low voice on a part of a word that changes meaning

covers prominence made by loudness as well as by tone changes
tonic accent
vsstress
  • Specialized
9.1

Emphasis on a syllable shown by a change to a higher or lower voice

also includes cases where loudness rather than pitch creates prominence

Antonyms

de-emphasis
  • Specialized
7.5

Reducing high sounds in a recording to make the sound less noisy

Idioms

People feel very tense and worried because many difficult things are happening

Compounds

stress test
  • Specialized
8 4.4

A test that checks how something works under pressure or bad conditions

stress fracture
  • Specialized
5 4.6

A small crack in a bone caused by doing the same movement again and again

2 4.4

A long-lasting problem in the mind after a very frightening event that causes flashbacks, strong fear, and avoidance of reminders

A thing or activity that helps you feel less tense

to stress test
  • Specialized
2 3.9

To put something under heavy load to see how it works

stress mark
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A small sign above a syllable that shows which part to say more strongly

stress incontinence
  • Specialized
1 6.2

Leak urine during actions that put pressure on the bladder, like coughing, laughing, or lifting

8.8

A strong feeling of worry that makes it hard to breathe or think

mechanical stress
  • Specialized
5.1

Force inside a material that acts on each small part because of outside forces

initial stress
  • Specialized
5.6

A strong sound on the first syllable of a word

sentence stress
  • Specialized
3.9

Emphasis on some words or syllables in speech that changes rhythm and meaning

word stress
  • Specialized
3.9

Emphasis on one syllable when you say a word with more than one syllable

How Stressed

stress
1 3.2
initial stress
  • Specialized
5.6

Surface Forms

stress singular
stresses plural

Etymology

Stress comes from the old French estresse 'tightness' and Latin stringere 'to draw tight', keeping the idea of force. So the stress on a syllable is the extra 'force' or loudness that makes it stand out in a word or song.