Word forms: comparative sicker, superlative sickest
1. adjective
If you are sick, you are ill. Sick usually means physically ill, but it can sometimes be used to mean mentally ill.
He's very sick. He needs medication.
She found herself with two small children, a sick husband, and no money.
He was not evil, but he was sick.
Synonyms: unwell, ill, poorly [informal], diseased More Synonyms of sick
The sick are people who are sick.
There were no doctors to treat the sick.
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are sick, the food that you have eaten comes up from your stomach and out of your mouth. If you feel sick, you feel as if you are going to be sick.
She got up and was sick in the handbasin.
The very thought of food made him feel sick.
Orange juice makes him sick so don't give it to him.
Synonyms: nauseous, ill, queasy, nauseated More Synonyms of sick
3. uncountable noun
Sick is vomit.
[British, informal]
Synonyms: vomit, puke [slang] More Synonyms of sick
4. adjective
If you say that you are sick of something or sick and tired of it, you are emphasizing that you are very annoyed by it and want it to stop.
[informal, emphasis]
I am sick and tired of hearing all these people moaning. [+ of]
Most people here are sick of violence.
Synonyms: tired, bored, fed up, weary More Synonyms of sick
5. adjective
If you describe something such as a joke or story as sick, you mean that it deals with death or suffering in an unpleasantly humorous way.
[disapproval]
...a sick joke about a cat.
That's really sick.
Synonyms: morbid, cruel, sadistic, black More Synonyms of sick
6. adjective
You can describe something as sick when you think it is excellent.
[British, informal]
Those new trainers are sick.
7.
See make sb sick
8.
See off sick
9.
See worried sick
More Synonyms of sick
sick in British English1
(sɪk)
adjective
1.
inclined or likely to vomit
2.
a.
suffering from ill health
b.
(as collective noun; preceded by the)
the sick
3.
a.
of, relating to, or used by people who are unwell
sick benefits
b.
(in combination)
sickroom
4.
deeply affected with a mental or spiritual feeling akin to physical sickness
sick at heart
5.
mentally, psychologically, or spiritually disturbed
6. informal
delighting in or catering for the macabre or sadistic; morbid
sick humour
7. Also: sick and tired(often foll by of) informal
disgusted or weary, esp because satiated
I am sick of his everlasting laughter
8. (often foll by for)
weary with longing; pining
I am sick for my own country
9.
pallid or sickly
10.
not in working order
11.
(of land) unfit for the adequate production of certain crops
12. slang
good; excellent
13. look sick
noun, verb
14. an informal word for vomit
Derived forms
sickish (ˈsickish)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sēoc; related to Old Norse skjūkr, Gothic siuks, Old High German sioh
sick in British English2
(sɪk)
verb
a variant spelling of sic2
sick in American English1
(sɪk)
adjective
1.
suffering from disease or illness; unwell; ill
in this sense, now rare or literary in England
2.
having nausea; vomiting or about to vomit
the predominant sense in England
3.
characteristic of or accompanying sickness
a sick expression
4.
of or for sick people
sick leave
5.
deeply disturbed or distressed; extremely upset, as by grief, disappointment, disgust, failure, etc.
6.
disgusted by reason of excess; annoyed or exasperated
usually with of
sick of such excuses
: often sick and tired
7.
in poor condition; impaired; unsound
8.
having a great longing or nostalgia (for)
sick for the hills
9.
of sickly color; pale
10.
having a discharge of the menses; menstruating
11.
mentally ill or emotionally disturbed
12. Informal
sadistic, morbid, or abnormally unwholesome
a sick joke
13. US, Agriculture
a.
incapable of producing an adequate yield of a certain crop
wheatsick soil
b.
infested with harmful microorganisms
a sick field
Idioms:
the sick
SYNONYMY NOTE: sick1, ill1 both express the idea of being in bad health, affected with disease, etc. (for differencesin American and British usage, see definition above), but , sick1 is more commonly used than , ill1, which is somewhat formal [he's a sick person; he is sick, or ill, with the flu]; ailing usually suggests prolonged or even chronic poor health [she has been ailing ever since her operation]; indisposed suggests a slight, temporary illness or feeling of physical discomfort [indisposed with a headache]
OPPOSITES: well, healthy
Word origin
ME sik, seke < OE seoc, akin to Ger siech < IE base *seug-, to be troubled or grieved > Arm hiucanim, (I) am weakening
sick in American English2
(sɪk)
verb transitive
alt. sp. of
sic2
More idioms containing
sick
sick as a dog
sick as a parrot
sick as a pig
worried sick
Examples of 'sick' in a sentence
sick
The mere sight of one makes her feel sick and want to run away.
The Sun (2011)
They were sick of paying rent but thought owning would be impossible.
The Sun (2015)
No wonder the sick and ill of this country continue to suffer.
The Sun (2010)
What kind of sick people hurt pets like us?
The Sun (2015)
He was stunned to learn more money is spent on prison grub than food for the sick.
The Sun (2011)
The thought of this website makes me feel physically sick.
The Sun (2010)
You still worry like hell about things and you still have that sick feeling in your stomach.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why do you get so greedy when you know it makes you sick?
The Sun (2013)
To give the offenders a year in custody is a sick joke.
The Sun (2006)
That sort of thing can make you feel a bit sick.
The Sun (2014)
No one likes feeling sick and ill.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
Of course we must provide for the sick and people on genuinely hard times.
The Sun (2006)
Is this just another way of telling doctors to sign fewer sick notes?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Do not eat any food while feeling sick or vomiting.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no health insurance, no sick pay.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
If and when your cat is sick again, act quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The torment has also left him worried for his sick mother - and he fears reading the tweets might make her worse.
The Sun (2012)
She says: 'I felt sick to my stomach.
The Sun (2009)
I'm worried sick what will happen if she tries It again.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
sick
British English: sick /sɪk/ ADJECTIVE
If you are sick, you are ill.
He's very sick. He needs medication.
American English: sick
Arabic: عَلِيل
Brazilian Portuguese: doente
Chinese: 病的
Croatian: bolestan
Czech: nevolno
Danish: syg
Dutch: ziek
European Spanish: enfermo
Finnish: pahoinvoiva
French: malade
German: krank
Greek: άρρωστος
Italian: malato
Japanese: 吐き気がする
Korean: 병든
Norwegian: kvalm
Polish: chory
European Portuguese: doente
Romanian: bolnav
Russian: чувствующий недомогание
Latin American Spanish: enfermo
Swedish: sjuk
Thai: ป่วย
Turkish: hasta
Ukrainian: хворий
Vietnamese: buồn nôn
British English: sick NOUN
The sick are people who are sick.
There were no doctors to treat the sick.
American English: sick
Brazilian Portuguese: doente
Chinese: 病人
European Spanish: enfermo
French: malades
German: Kranke
Italian: malati
Japanese: 病人
Korean: 아픈 사람들
European Portuguese: doente
Latin American Spanish: enfermo
All related terms of 'sick'
car sick
If someone feels car sick , they feel sick as a result of traveling in a car.
look sick
to be outclassed
off sick
If you are off sick , you are not at work because you are ill .
out sick
If you are out sick , you are not at work because you are sick.
sick bag
a bag provided on an aircraft or ship as a receptacle for vomit
sick bay
A sick bay is an area, especially on a ship or navy base , or in Britain in a school or university , where medical treatment is given and where beds are provided for people who are ill .
sick call
a daily formation made up of personnel who wish to receive medical attention
sick day
a day of absence from work taken due to illness
sick-dog
a calm and unruffled person
sick joke
A joke is something that is said or done to make you laugh , for example a funny story.
sick list
a list of the sick , esp in the army or navy
sick note
A sick note is an official note signed by a doctor which states that someone is ill and needs to stay off work for a particular period of time.
sick-out
a form of industrial action in which all workers in a factory , etc, report sick simultaneously
sick pay
When you are ill and unable to work, sick pay is the money that you get from your employer instead of your normal wages.
the sick
sick or ill people collectively
sick leave
Sick leave is the time that a person spends away from work because of illness or injury .
sick-making
making one feel jealous
travel-sick
nauseated from riding in a moving vehicle
water-sick
(of land) made infertile or uncultivable by excessive irrigation
sick headache
a headache accompanied by nausea
sick patient
A patient is a person who is receiving medical treatment from a doctor or hospital. A patient is also someone who is registered with a particular doctor.
worried sick
If you say that you are worried sick , you are emphasizing that you are extremely worried.
make sb sick
If you say that something or someone makes you sick , you mean that they make you feel angry or disgusted .
airsick
sick or nauseated from travelling in an aircraft
sickbed
Your sickbed is the bed that you are lying in while you are ill .
on the sick list
in poor health; not well ; ill
sick as a dog
very ill or very upset
sick as a parrot
very annoyed or disappointed about something
sick as a pig
very annoyed and upset about something
statutory sick pay
the pay an employee is legally entitled to when sick
to call in sick
If you call in sick , you telephone the place where you work to tell them you will not be coming to work because you are ill .
sickroom
A sickroom is a room in which a sick person is lying in bed .
anointing of the sick
a sacrament in which a person who is seriously ill or dying is anointed by a priest with consecrated oil
as sick as a parrot
If you say that you feel as sick as a parrot , you feel very disappointed about something.
sick building syndrome
Sick building syndrome is a group of conditions, including headaches, sore eyes, and tiredness, which people who work in offices may experience because the air there is not healthy to breathe .
sick to one's stomach
If you say that you feel sick to your stomach about something, you mean that you feel very angry or upset about it.
seik
inclined or likely to vomit
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
a charity in the United Kingdom that provides veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford to pay for it
bush sickness
an animal disease caused by a cobalt deficiency in old bush country
fed up to the back teeth with something
annoyed or tired because something has been happening for a long time and you think it should be stopped or changed
Chinese translation of 'sick'
sick
(sɪk)
adj
(physically) 患病的 (huànbìng de)
(mentally) 令人讨(討)厌(厭)的 (lìng rén tǎoyàn de)
to be sick (= vomit) 呕(嘔)吐 (ǒutù)
[humour, joke]病态(態)的 (bìngtài de)
n(u)
(Brit, = vomit) 呕(嘔)吐物 (ǒutùwù)
n pl
the sick病人 (bìngrén)
to feel sick感觉(覺)恶(惡)心 (gǎnjué ěxīn)
to fall sick患病 (huànbìng)
to be off sick因病缺席 (yīn bìng quēxí)
to make sb sick (inf) 使某人感到厌(厭)恶(惡) (shǐ mǒurén gǎndào yànwù)
to be sick of sth/of doing sth (inf) 讨(討)厌(厭)某事/做某事 (tǎoyàn mǒushì/zuò mǒushì)
see usage note
ill
All related terms of 'sick'
sick pay
病假工资(資) bìngjià gōngzī
the sick
病人 bìngrén
sick note
( from parents ) 病假条(條) bìngjiàtiáo [ 张(張) zhāng ]
sick leave
病假 bìngjià
travel sick
晕(暈)车(車)/船/机(機)的 yùnchē/chuán/jī de
to be sick
( vomit ) 呕(嘔)吐 ǒutù
to fall sick
患病 huànbìng
to feel sick
感觉(覺)恶(惡)心 gǎnjué ěxīn
to report sick
告病 gàobìng
to be off sick
因病缺席 yīn bìng quēxí
to make sb sick
( inf ) 使某人感到厌(厭)恶(惡) shǐ mǒurén gǎndào yànwù
to be on sick leave
休病假 xiū bìngjià
to be sick of sth/of doing sth
( inf ) 讨(討)厌(厭)某事/做某事 tǎoyàn mǒushì/zuò mǒushì
1 (adjective)
Definition
physically or mentally unwell
She's very sick.
Synonyms
unwell
He felt unwell as he was being driven back to his office.
ill
poorly (informal)
I've just phoned Julie and she's still poorly.
diseased
Clear away dead or diseased plants.
weak
crook (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
He admitted to feeling a bit crook.
under par (informal)
ailing
I stopped working to care for my ailing mother.
feeble
While I was ill I was too feeble to even stand.
laid up (informal)
I was laid up in bed with acute rheumatism.
under the weather (informal)
I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
indisposed
The speaker was regrettably indisposed.
on the sick list (informal)
Opposites
well
,
fit
,
healthy
, fine,
robust
,
fit and well
,
up to par
,
hale and hearty
,
fit as a fiddle
,
able-bodied
2 (adjective)
Definition
vomiting or likely to vomit
The very thought of food made him feel sick.
Synonyms
nauseous
Sea travel makes me feel nauseous.
ill
He was seriously ill with pneumonia.
queasy
He was prone to sickness and already felt queasy.
nauseated
bilious
She appears to be suffering a bilious attack.
green about the gills (informal)
qualmish
3 (adjective)
Definition
disgusted by or weary of
(informal)
I am sick of hearing all these people moaning.
Synonyms
tired
I was tired of being a bookkeeper.
bored
I am getting very bored with this entire business.
fed up
I'm fed up and don't know what to do.
weary
I am growing weary of your constant complaints.
glutted
jaded
We had both become jaded, disinterested and disillusioned.
blasé
his seemingly blasé attitude
satiated
4 (adjective)
Definition
deeply affected with mental or spiritual distress
We were sick to concede that third goal.
Synonyms
disappointed
I was disappointed that she was not there.
upset
Larry is suffering from an upset stomach.
depressed
He seemed somewhat depressed.
gutted
disgusted
discouraged
choked
disillusioned
I've become very disillusioned with politics.
discontented
The government tried to appease discontented workers.
disgruntled
Disgruntled employees recently called for his resignation.
saddened
disenchanted
I'm disenchanted with my marriage at the moment.
displeased
despondent
He often felt despondent after these meetings.
downhearted
Don't be so downhearted.
5 (adjective)
Definition
making fun of death, illness, or misfortune
(informal)
a sick joke about a cat
Synonyms
morbid
Some people have a morbid fascination with crime.
cruel
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.
the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
sadistic
There was a sadistic streak in him.
black
After the demise of her business, she fell into a black depression.
offensive
gruesome
There has been a series of gruesome murders in the capital.
macabre
Police have made a macabre discovery.
ghoulish
They are there only to satisfy their ghoulish curiosity.
(noun)
Definition
a dog examining a pile of sick
Synonyms
vomit
puke (slang)
phrase
See be sick
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ailing
Definition
unwell or unsuccessful over a long period
I stopped working to care for my ailing mother.
Synonyms
ill,
suffering,
poorly (informal),
diseased,
sick,
weak,
crook (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
feeble,
invalid,
debilitated,
sickly,
unwell,
infirm,
off colour,
under the weather (informal),
indisposed
in the sense of bilious
Definition
nauseous
She appears to be suffering a bilious attack.
Synonyms
sick,
nauseated,
queasy,
out of sorts,
nauseous,
liverish (informal)
in the sense of black
Definition
without hope
After the demise of her business, she fell into a black depression.
Synonyms
gloomy,
sad,
depressing,
distressing,
horrible,
grim,
bleak,
hopeless,
dismal,
ominous,
sombre,
morbid,
mournful,
morose,
lugubrious,
joyless,
funereal,
doleful,
cheerless
Synonyms of 'sick'
sick
Explore 'sick' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blasé
his seemingly blasé attitude
Synonyms
nonchalant,
cool,
bored,
distant,
regardless,
detached,
weary,
indifferent,
careless,
lukewarm,
glutted,
jaded,
unmoved,
unconcerned,
impervious,
uncaring,
uninterested,
apathetic,
offhand,
world-weary,
heedless,
satiated,
unexcited,
surfeited,
cloyed
in the sense of bored
I am getting very bored with this entire business.
Synonyms
fed up,
tired,
hacked (off) (US, slang),
wearied,
weary,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
uninterested,
sick and tired (informal),
listless,
browned-off (informal),
brassed off (British, slang),
ennuied,
hoha (New Zealand)
in the sense of crook
He admitted to feeling a bit crook.
Synonyms
ill,
sick,
poorly (informal),
funny (informal),
weak,
ailing,
queer,
frail,
feeble,
unhealthy,
seedy (informal),
sickly,
unwell,
laid up (informal),
queasy,
infirm,
out of sorts (informal),
dicky (British, informal),
nauseous,
off-colour,
under the weather (informal),
at death's door,
indisposed,
peaky,
on the sick list (informal),
green about the gills
in the sense of cruel
Definition
deliberately causing pain without pity
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
Synonyms
brutal,
ruthless,
callous,
sadistic,
inhumane,
hard,
fell (archaic),
severe,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
relentless,
murderous,
monstrous,
unnatural,
unkind,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
malevolent,
hellish (informal),
depraved,
spiteful,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
sanguinary,
hard-hearted,
stony-hearted,
implacable
in the sense of depressed
Definition
low in spirits
He seemed somewhat depressed.
Synonyms
sad,
down,
low,
blue,
unhappy,
discouraged,
fed up,
moody,
gloomy,
pessimistic,
melancholy,
sombre,
glum,
mournful,
dejected,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
morose,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
doleful,
downhearted,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
cheerless,
woebegone,
down in the mouth (informal),
low-spirited
in the sense of despondent
Definition
dejected or depressed
He often felt despondent after these meetings.
Synonyms
dejected,
sad,
depressed,
down,
low,
blue,
despairing,
discouraged,
miserable,
gloomy,
hopeless,
dismal,
melancholy,
in despair,
glum,
dispirited,
downcast,
morose,
disheartened,
sorrowful,
wretched,
disconsolate,
doleful,
downhearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
sick as a parrot (informal),
woebegone,
low-spirited
in the sense of discontented
The government tried to appease discontented workers.
Synonyms
dissatisfied,
complaining,
unhappy,
miserable,
fed up,
disgruntled,
disaffected,
vexed,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
displeased,
fretful,
cheesed off (British, slang),
brassed off (British, slang),
with a chip on your shoulder (informal)
in the sense of diseased
Clear away dead or diseased plants.
Synonyms
unhealthy,
sick,
infected,
rotten (informal),
ailing,
tainted,
sickly,
unwell,
crook (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
unsound,
unwholesome
in the sense of disenchanted
Definition
disappointed and disillusioned (with something)
I'm disenchanted with my marriage at the moment.
Synonyms
disillusioned,
disappointed,
soured,
cynical,
indifferent,
sick,
let down,
blasé,
jaundiced,
undeceived
in the sense of disgruntled
Definition
sulky or discontented
Disgruntled employees recently called for his resignation.
Synonyms
discontented,
dissatisfied,
annoyed,
irritated,
put out,
hacked (off) (US, slang),
grumpy,
vexed,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
sullen,
displeased,
petulant,
sulky,
peeved,
malcontent,
testy,
peevish,
huffy,
cheesed off (British, slang),
hoha (New Zealand)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disillusioned
Definition
disappointed at finding out reality does not match one's ideals
I've become very disillusioned with politics.
Synonyms
disenchanted,
disappointed,
enlightened,
indifferent,
disabused,
sadder and wiser,
undeceived
in the sense of downhearted
Definition
sad and discouraged
Don't be so downhearted.
Synonyms
dejected,
sad,
depressed,
unhappy,
blue,
discouraged,
dismayed,
despondent,
dispirited,
downcast,
disheartened,
sorrowful,
crestfallen,
sick as a parrot (informal),
low-spirited,
chapfallen
in the sense of fed up
Definition
annoyed or bored
I'm fed up and don't know what to do.
Synonyms
cheesed off,
down,
depressed,
bored,
tired,
annoyed,
hacked (off) (US, slang),
weary,
gloomy,
blue,
dismal,
discontented,
dissatisfied,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
glum,
sick and tired (informal),
browned-off (informal),
down in the mouth (informal),
brassed off (British, slang),
hoha (New Zealand)
in the sense of feeble
Definition
lacking in physical or mental strength
While I was ill I was too feeble to even stand.
Synonyms
weak,
failing,
exhausted,
weakened,
delicate,
faint,
powerless,
frail,
debilitated,
sickly,
languid,
puny,
weedy (informal),
infirm,
effete,
enfeebled,
doddering,
enervated,
etiolated,
shilpit (Scottish)
in the sense of ghoulish
They are there only to satisfy their ghoulish curiosity.
Synonyms
macabre,
sick (informal),
disgusting,
hideous,
gruesome,
grisly,
horrid,
morbid,
unwholesome
in the sense of gruesome
Definition
inspiring horror and disgust
There has been a series of gruesome murders in the capital.
Synonyms
horrific,
shocking,
terrible,
awful,
horrible,
grim,
horrifying,
fearful (informal),
obscene,
horrendous,
ghastly,
hideous,
from hell (informal),
grisly,
macabre,
horrid,
repulsive,
repugnant,
loathsome,
abominable,
spine-chilling,
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of ill
Definition
not in good health
He was seriously ill with pneumonia.
Synonyms
unwell,
sick,
poorly (informal),
diseased,
funny (informal),
weak,
crook (Australian, New Zealand, slang),
ailing,
queer,
frail,
feeble,
unhealthy,
seedy (informal),
sickly,
laid up (informal),
queasy,
infirm,
out of sorts (informal),
dicky (British, informal),
nauseous,
off-colour,
under the weather (informal),
at death's door,
indisposed,
peaky,
on the sick list (informal),
valetudinarian,
green about the gills,
not up to snuff (informal)
in the sense of indisposed
Definition
sick or ill
The speaker was regrettably indisposed.
Synonyms
ill,
poorly (informal),
sick,
crook (Australian, New Zealand, informal),
ailing,
unwell,
laid up (informal),
under the weather,
confined to bed,
on the sick list (informal)
in the sense of jaded
Definition
tired or bored from overindulgence or overwork
We had both become jaded, disinterested and disillusioned.
Synonyms
tired,
bored,
weary,
worn out,
done in (informal),
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal),