Fatigue
/fəˈtiːɡ/
Definitions
2 meaningsA feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness.
/fəˈtiːɡ/
Extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness.
The long journey caused extreme fatigue.
💡 Simply: Imagine you've been running around all day, maybe playing sports or helping your parents. Fatigue is that super sleepy, worn-out feeling when you just want to sit down and rest! Like, you can barely lift your arms to grab a snack.
👶 For kids: Feeling super tired like you want to take a long nap.
More Examples
He was overcome with fatigue after the marathon.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can significantly impact a person's life.
How It's Used
"The patient complained of persistent fatigue after the surgery."
"The soldiers were suffering from combat fatigue."
"She felt overwhelming fatigue after a long day of work."
To tire or exhaust someone.
/fəˈtiːɡ/
Cause (someone) to feel very tired.
The excessive workload fatigued the employees.
💡 Simply: To 'fatigue' someone is to make them feel so tired, just like running a race would fatigue your muscles. The word means you’re making someone feel totally worn out and drained of energy.
👶 For kids: To make someone feel super, super tired.
More Examples
The lack of sleep fatigued her quickly.
The monotonous tasks fatigued the workers.
How It's Used
"The long hours of work fatigued him."
"The constant training fatigued the recruits."
Idioms & expressions
combat fatigue
A state of extreme mental and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged exposure to combat.
"Many soldiers suffer from combat fatigue after returning from war zones."
From French *fatigue* (noun), from *fatiguer* 'to tire', from Vulgar Latin *fatīgāre*, from Latin *fātīgō* 'to tire, weary'.
The word fatigue has been used since the late 17th century to describe physical tiredness. In the military, it also described the performance of non-combat duties.
Memory tip
Think of feeling *fat* and *ig*noring your work because you are too tired.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: fatiguer (to tire)