Sick
/sɪk/
Definitions
5 meaningsAffected by physical or mental illness; unwell.
/sɪk/
He was sick with a terrible headache.
💡 Simply: Imagine you ate too much candy and now your tummy hurts! Being sick means you're not feeling well and might have a fever or feel nauseous.
👶 For kids: When your body feels yucky, you're sick!
More Examples
The doctor said she was sick with a virus.
I stayed home from school because I felt sick.
How It's Used
"She felt sick after eating the bad food."
"I've been sick with the flu all week."
Experiencing nausea; feeling like you want to vomit.
/sɪk/
The smell of the fish made her feel sick.
💡 Simply: Ever felt like your stomach is doing flips? Feeling sick in this way means you feel like you might throw up, like when you're on a bumpy car ride or ate something yucky.
👶 For kids: When your tummy wants to come out, you feel sick!
More Examples
He became sick on the airplane due to turbulence.
The rollercoaster made me feel sick.
How It's Used
"The motion of the boat made him feel sick."
"I feel sick after riding that rollercoaster"
Mentally or emotionally disturbed; disgusted or disgusted by something.
/sɪk/
Mentally or emotionally disturbed; disgusted.
I'm sick of this traffic!
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'sick' means you're really, really annoyed or disgusted, like when someone is always talking and you can't take it anymore. You might say 'I'm sick of it!'
👶 For kids: When you're so mad or annoyed, you're sick of it!
More Examples
She was sickened by the cruelty she witnessed.
He's sick of the constant criticism.
How It's Used
"I'm sick of your complaining!"
"The whole situation makes me sick."
Impressive, outstanding, excellent (informal usage).
/sɪk/
Impressive or outstanding; excellent (informal).
That was a sick guitar solo!
💡 Simply: In this slang meaning, 'sick' means really awesome, cool, or impressive, like a really cool drawing or a great dance move.
👶 For kids: When something is super cool or awesome, it's sick!
More Examples
Her artwork is sick.
That car is sick.
How It's Used
"That skateboard trick was sick!"
"The new song is sick."
An instance or period of illness; a disease or condition.
/sɪk/
An instance or period of illness.
He had a long sick last year.
💡 Simply: When someone is unable to work or go to school because they are not feeling well.
👶 For kids: Being absent because you are not feeling well.
More Examples
She's taken some sick days.
I'm worried she is getting a sick.
How It's Used
"She took a day off work because of her sick."
"He was off sick for a week."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
sick and tired
Extremely annoyed and frustrated.
"I'm sick and tired of your excuses."
sick as a dog
Very ill.
"He was sick as a dog with the flu."
From Old English *seoc*, *sióc*, meaning 'ill, diseased', from Proto-Germanic *seukaz*. Related to the verb 'to seek', possibly originally meaning 'afflicted, suffering'.
The word 'sick' has existed since Old English, initially referring to physical ailments. The slang usage evolved more recently.