Sick: meaning, definitions and examples

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sick

[ sɪk ]

Adjective / Noun

Oxford 3000

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

feeling unwell

Physically or mentally unwell; affected with disease or disorder.

Synonyms

ailing, ill, under the weather, unwell.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sick	Commonly used in both casual and formal settings to describe someone who is not feeling well. It is a broad term that can refer to a variety of illnesses. She missed school because she was sick. I'm feeling sick to my stomach.
unwell	A formal and polite way to describe someone who is not feeling well. It is general and not specific to any particular illness. She called in to say she was feeling unwell. After the long flight, I felt quite unwell.
ill	Often used in more formal contexts to describe someone who is suffering from a disease or condition. It is also used in UK English more frequently than 'sick'. He is too ill to come to work today. She has been ill for a few days.
under the weather	Used in informal settings to describe someone who is feeling slightly ill, usually not seriously. It suggests a temporary and mild condition. I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. He's been under the weather since the weekend.
ailing	Typically used to describe someone who is experiencing prolonged health problems or is in poor health, often chronic conditions. It is a more formal and sometimes literary term. The ailing actor was unable to attend the ceremony. His ailing health has been a concern for the family.

Examples of usage

I feel sick, I think I need to see a doctor.
She called in sick to work because she had a fever.
His constant headaches made him feel sick all the time.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

disgusting

Causing disgust or revulsion; unpleasant or offensive.

Synonyms

disgusting, nauseating, repulsive, revolting.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sick	Used to describe someone who is not feeling well physically. It can also be used figuratively in casual speech to express strong disapproval or dislike. I'm feeling sick today and can't go to work. That joke was really sick.
disgusting	Used to describe something very unpleasant or offensive, especially in a way that causes a strong feeling of dislike. The food in that restaurant was absolutely disgusting. His behavior at the party was disgusting.
repulsive	Used in more formal language to describe something that causes intense aversion or disgust. His repulsive comments shocked everyone. The sight of the rotten food was repulsive.
revolting	Used to describe something extremely unpleasant or offensive, often used in a more dramatic or emotional context. The idea of eating insects is revolting to me. The documentary showed some revolting scenes.
nauseating	Used to describe something that makes you feel like you are going to vomit, or something extremely unpleasant. The smell coming from the garbage was nauseating. Her constant bragging is nauseating.

Examples of usage

The smell from the garbage can was making me feel sick.
The thought of eating that spoiled food made her feel sick.
The violence in the movie was too sick for some viewers.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

informal

A person who is obsessed with something or highly skilled at it.

Synonyms

expert, genius, master, pro.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sick	Often used to describe someone who is ill or feeling unwell. It can also be used informally to describe something as impressive or cool, especially in youth slang. I'm feeling sick today, so I won't be able to attend class. That skateboard trick was sick!
expert	Used to describe someone who has extensive knowledge or skill in a particular area. She is an expert in molecular biology. We need an expert to fix this machine.
master	Describes someone who has achieved a high level of skill or proficiency in a particular field or activity. It can also be used in academic titles. He is a master of martial arts. She earned her Master of Science degree last year.
genius	Refers to someone with exceptional intellectual or creative ability. Albert Einstein is considered a genius. His new invention is pure genius.
pro	Short for professional, this word is used to describe someone who is very skilled at something, often as a career. She's a pro at graphic design. He turned pro at the age of 18.

Examples of usage

He's a sick guitarist, he can play any song perfectly.
She's a sick artist, her paintings are amazing.
The team has some sick players who always perform well.

Translations

Translations of the word "sick" in other languages:

🇵🇹 doente

🇮🇳 बीमार (Beemaar)

🇩🇪 krank

🇮🇩 sakit

🇺🇦 хворий

🇵🇱 chory

🇯🇵 病気 (びょうき, byouki)

🇫🇷 malade

🇪🇸 enfermo

🇹🇷 hasta

🇰🇷 아픈 (apeun)

🇸🇦 مريض (mareed)

🇨🇿 nemocný

🇸🇰 chorý

🇨🇳 生病 (shēng bìng)

🇸🇮 bolan

🇮🇸 veikur

🇰🇿 ауырып тұрған

🇬🇪 ავადმყოფი (avadmk'op'i)

🇦🇿 xəstə

🇲🇽 enfermo

Etymology

The word 'sick' has a long history dating back to Old English. Originally derived from the Proto-Germanic word 'sukwaz', it evolved over time to mean 'affected by physical or mental illness'. The term has also been used informally to describe something extreme or impressive, such as 'sick skills' in reference to exceptional abilities. In modern slang, 'sick' can have positive connotations when used to describe something cool or impressive.

See also: sickbay, sicken, sickly, sickness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,471, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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