distress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “distress” mean?
Severe anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Severe anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
A state of extreme difficulty, danger, or suffering; also, the state of a ship or aircraft in immediate danger and requiring assistance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. The verb is used similarly, though in formal/legal property contexts, 'distraint' is the related noun in both.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of suffering and urgency.
Frequency
Similar frequency; perhaps slightly more common in British formal/administrative language (e.g., 'distress signal').
Grammar
How to Use “distress” in a Sentence
to be in distressto cause somebody distressto distress somebodydistress at/over somethingdistress that...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distress” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The news clearly distressed her.
- It distresses me to see the building in such a state.
American English
- The images distressed many viewers.
- He was distressed by the lack of progress.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her distressingly.
- The situation was distressingly familiar.
American English
- The child cried distressingly loud.
- The report was distressingly vague.
adjective
British English
- She gave a distressed cry.
- The distressed leather sofa had a worn look.
American English
- The sailor made a distressed call to the coast guard.
- They sold distressed properties at auction.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to financial difficulty (e.g., 'a company in financial distress').
Academic
Used in psychology, medicine, and social sciences to describe psychological or physiological states.
Everyday
Commonly describes emotional upset or worry.
Technical
In maritime/aviation, a specific state requiring immediate aid ('Mayday' signal). In medicine, 'respiratory distress'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distress”
- Using 'distress' for mild annoyance. Confusing spelling: 'distress' vs. 'distress'. Incorrect preposition: 'distress for' instead of 'distress at/over'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically yes. It denotes a level of suffering beyond mild annoyance or worry.
Yes, particularly in fashion/furniture (distressed jeans) and finance (distressed assets), meaning worn or in bad condition.
'Stress' is a general response to pressure, which can be positive or negative. 'Distress' is specifically negative, severe stress causing suffering.
Most commonly as a passive or in a causative sense: 'I was distressed by...' or 'It distressed me that...'.
Severe anxiety, sorrow, or pain.
Distress is usually neutral to formal in register.
Distress: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈstres/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstres/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a damsel in distress”
- “to be in dire distress”
- “a cry of distress”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of STRESS with DI- (apart, badly) in front: a state where stress pulls you apart.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISTRESS IS A BURDEN / DISTRESS IS BEING IN A DARK PLACE.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most commonly used in a maritime context?