A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
One of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia is hearing imaginary voices.
...patients with flu symptoms.
If the symptoms persist, it is important to go to your doctor.
Synonyms: sign, mark, indication, warning More Synonyms of symptom
2. countable noun
A symptomof a bad situation is something that happens which is considered to be a sign of this situation.
With some people lateness is a symptom of general unreliability. [+ of]
The contradictory statements are symptoms of disarray in the administration.
More Synonyms of symptom
symptom in British English
(ˈsɪmptəm)
noun
1. medicine
any sensation or change in bodily function experienced by a patient that is associated with a particular disease
Compare sign (sense 9)
2.
any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and regarded as evidence of its existence; indication
Derived forms
symptomless (ˈsymptomless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin symptōma, from Greek sumptōma chance, from sumpiptein to occur, from syn- + piptein to fall
symptom in American English
(ˈsɪmptəm)
noun
1.
any circumstance, event, or condition that accompanies something and indicates its existence or occurrence; sign; indication
2. Medicine
any condition accompanying or resulting from a disease or a physical disorder and serving as an aid in diagnosis
Word origin
altered (infl. by LL or Gr) < ME symthoma < ML sinthoma < LL symptoma < Gr symptōma, anything that has befallen one, casualty < sympiptein, to fall together, happen < syn-, together + piptein, to fall: see feather
COBUILD Collocations
symptom
classic symptom
common symptom
mild symptom
obvious symptom
typical symptom
Examples of 'symptom' in a sentence
symptom
This is not a symptom of increased illness across the nation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There they find a previously unknown virus and one patient with alarming symptoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Weight loss is a symptom doctors take very seriously.
The Sun (2011)
He showed no apparent physical symptoms of the disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is unknown whether the choice of expressing emotional conflicts via bodily symptoms is inherited or learned.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
What often surprises people are those symptoms of feeling bad first thing in the morning.
Mumby, Keith The Allergy Handbook (1988)
These conditions may be rare but the presenting symptoms are common.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The reason is usually because surveillance attacks the symptoms of problems rather than their causes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This happens when you are already showing signs or symptoms of a condition.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It should be done if symptoms change or if there is a major change in medication.
Pantano, James A. (MD) Living with Angina (1991)
When you get a symptom do something about it.
The Sun (2014)
Some illnesses produce these symptoms and need treatment.
The Sun (2014)
Then there was the patient with urgent symptoms whose appointment was months ahead.
The Sun (2010)
Doctors say the symptoms will soon pass.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So what really are the symptoms of bad circulation?
The Sun (2008)
The most common symptoms of cerebral palsy are tremors and uncontrolled muscle spasms.
Siann, Gerda & Ugwuegbu, Denis C. E. Educational Psychology in a Changing World (1988)
He is but a symptom of the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The problem is that many of the listed signs and symptoms are normal aspects of adolescent behaviour.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
Experts claim web addiction can be a symptom of mental illness.
The Sun (2009)
GPs will be given a checklist of symptoms signalling that patients are within days of death.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The uncertainty is a symptom of profound changes which are still working their way through the university system.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's the third most commonly reported bodily symptom after headache and tiredness.
Sally Gunnell, Kathryn Leigh BE YOUR BEST: How Anyone can become Fit, Healthy and Confident (2002)
In other languages
symptom
British English: symptom /ˈsɪmptəm/ NOUN
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body that is a sign of the illness.
...patients with flu symptoms.
American English: symptom
Arabic: عَلَامَة
Brazilian Portuguese: sintoma
Chinese: 症状
Croatian: simptom
Czech: příznak nemoci
Danish: symptom
Dutch: symptoom
European Spanish: síntoma
Finnish: oire
French: symptôme
German: Symptom
Greek: σύμπτωμα
Italian: sintomo
Japanese: 症状
Korean: 증상
Norwegian: symptop
Polish: objaw
European Portuguese: sintoma
Romanian: simptom
Russian: симптом
Latin American Spanish: síntoma
Swedish: symtom
Thai: อาการของโรค
Turkish: belirti hastalık
Ukrainian: симптом
Vietnamese: triệu chứng
All related terms of 'symptom'
mild symptom
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
classic symptom
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
common symptom
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
obvious symptom
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
typical symptom
A symptom of an illness is something wrong with your body or mind that is a sign of the illness.
somatic symptom disorder
a psychiatric disorder in which the physical symptoms associated with a disease cause abnormal distress and anxiety
Chinese translation of 'symptom'
symptom
(ˈsɪmptəm)
n(c)
(Med) 症状(狀) (zhèngzhuàng) (个(個), gè)
(= indication) 征(徵)兆 (zhēngzhào)
1 (noun)
Definition
a sign indicating the presence of an illness or disease
patients with flu symptoms
Synonyms
sign
His face and movements rarely betrayed any sign of nerves.
mark
Shopkeepers closed their shutters as a mark of respect.
indication
He gave no indication that he was ready to compromise.
warning
a warning of impending doom
2 (noun)
Definition
anything that is taken as an indication that something is wrong
Your problem with sleep is just a symptom of a larger problem.
Synonyms
manifestation
Different animals have different manifestations of the disease.
sign
It is a sign of things to come.
indication
mark
warning
evidence
Police said there was no evidence of a struggle.
expression
We attended as an expression of solidarity.
proof
token
He sent her a gift as a token of his appreciation.
portent
This is a frightening portent for the future.
augury
The auguries of death are gathering around him.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of augury
Definition
an omen
The auguries of death are gathering around him.
Synonyms
omen,
sign,
warning,
promise,
token,
herald (literary),
prophecy,
precursor,
forerunner,
portent,
harbinger (literary),
presage,
forewarning,
prognostication,
auspice,
puku (New Zealand)
in the sense of evidence
Police said there was no evidence of a struggle.
Synonyms
sign(s),
mark,
suggestion,
trace,
indication,
token,
manifestation
in the sense of expression
Definition
a showing of emotion without words
We attended as an expression of solidarity.
Synonyms
indication,
demonstration,
exhibition,
display,
showing,
show,
sign,
symbol,
representation,
token,
manifestation,
embodiment
Synonyms of 'symptom'
symptom
Explore 'symptom' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of indication
He gave no indication that he was ready to compromise.
Synonyms
sign,
mark,
evidence,
warning,
note,
signal,
suggestion,
symptom,
hint,
clue,
manifestation,
omen,
inkling,
portent,
intimation,
forewarning,
wake-up call
in the sense of mark
Definition
an indication of some quality
Shopkeepers closed their shutters as a mark of respect.
Synonyms
indication,
sign,
note,
evidence,
symbol,
proof,
token
in the sense of portent
Definition
a sign of a future event
This is a frightening portent for the future.
Synonyms
omen,
sign,
warning,
threat,
indication,
premonition,
foreshadowing,
foreboding,
harbinger (literary),
presage,
forewarning,
prognostication,
augury,
presentiment,
prognostic
in the sense of token
Definition
a symbol, sign, or indication of something
He sent her a gift as a token of his appreciation.
Synonyms
symbol,
mark,
sign,
note,
evidence,
earnest (old-fashioned),
index,
expression,
demonstration,
proof,
indication,
clue,
representation,
badge,
manifestation
in the sense of warning
Definition
a hint, threat, or advance notice of a possible danger or problem