wiak
Very HighNeutral; used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
Lacking physical strength, power, or intensity.
Used to describe something that is not strong, effective, convincing, or able to resist influence. Can refer to character, arguments, points, signals, currency, etc.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. Can describe a person's physical state, a person's character or resolve, the quality of an argument or reason, the intensity of a light/sound/signal, the performance of a market/currency, or a diluted substance (e.g., weak tea).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Weak' as a verb (to make weak) is rare and archaic in both, slightly more attested in older British texts. In football/soccer commentary, 'a weak shot' is common in both; in American football, 'weak-side linebacker' is a technical term.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both use 'weak-kneed' figuratively. 'Weak sister' (an unreliable person) is more common in American English.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be/look/feel/seem weakgrow/become weakremain weakmake something/someone weakweak from/with (e.g., weak from hunger)weak in/on (e.g., weak in mathematics)weak against (e.g., weak against pressure)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”
- “weak at the knees”
- “a weak moment”
- “the weakest link”
- “strong/weak currency”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describing market demand, a company's financial position, or a poorly performing product.
Academic
Describing flawed methodology, insufficient evidence, or an unconvincing thesis.
Everyday
Describing a person's physical condition after illness, a diluted drink, or poor mobile signal.
Technical
In physics/engineering: weak force, weak nuclear interaction, weak signal. In computing: weak reference, weak typing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fever had weakened him considerably.
- Over-watering will weak the plant's roots.
American English
- The scandal weakened the president's authority.
- The constant stress began to weak her resolve.
adverb
British English
- The lamp glowed weakly in the corner.
- He smiled weakly, trying to hide his disappointment.
American English
- The protest was weakly attended.
- She objected weakly, but everyone ignored her.
adjective
British English
- After the flu, she felt too weak to go for a run.
- The Wi-Fi signal in the garden is frustratingly weak.
American English
- He gave a weak excuse for being late.
- The dollar is weak against the euro this quarter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother is old and weak.
- I don't like weak coffee; I prefer it strong.
- The light is too weak to read by.
- The bridge collapsed because its supports were weak.
- He has a weak understanding of basic economics.
- She felt weak with relief when she heard the good news.
- The prosecution's case was weak, relying on circumstantial evidence.
- The country's economy is vulnerable due to its weak manufacturing sector.
- His argument was weak on facts but strong on emotional appeal.
- The treaty was fatally weakened by the absence of key signatories.
- Her normally robust health weakened perceptibly after the prolonged treatment.
- Critics pounced on the weak premise of the novel's central metaphor.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'WEAK' person needing a 'WEEK' of rest to recover their strength.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS VERTICALITY/POWER (weak = low, falling, yielding); ARGUMENTS ARE STRUCTURES (weak argument = a fragile building).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'week' (неделя). 'Weak tea' is 'жидкий чай', not 'мягкий чай'. Russian 'слабый' maps directly, but English 'weak' is used more broadly for abstract concepts (weak argument, weak data).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'weak' (adj.) with 'week' (n.) in writing. Using 'weak' instead of 'thin' for slender objects (e.g., 'a weak thread' should be 'a thin thread'). Incorrect preposition: 'weak on' a subject vs. 'weak in' a skill ('He is weak on details' is more common than 'weak in details').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'weak' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Weak' is a general, neutral term. 'Feeble' implies a more pitiable, extreme, or ineffectual weakness, often with a sense of contempt or pity (e.g., a feeble attempt, a feeble old man).
Yes, it can describe a lack of resolve, willpower, or moral strength (e.g., 'He was too weak to resist peer pressure.'). This use can be quite critical.
Yes, this is a common and acceptable collocation meaning 'not proficient in' or 'poor at' a subject or skill.
In informal American English, 'weak sauce' is slang for something that is disappointing, inferior, or lame. (e.g., 'Your excuse for not coming is weak sauce.')