stress out
A2 informal separable both
In simple words
To feel very worried and nervous, or to make someone else feel that way.
Literal meaning: Stress (pressure/tension) completely overtakes you — 'out' implies full state change.
Meanings
1 A2
idiomatic
informal
To cause someone to feel very anxious, worried, or under pressure.
"All these last-minute changes to the schedule are really stressing me out."
Grammar: separable
2 A2
idiomatic
informal
To feel extreme anxiety or tension yourself.
"She tends to stress out before any kind of public performance."
Usage notes
Extremely common in everyday spoken English, especially among younger speakers. Can be used transitively ('that stresses me out') or intransitively ('I stress out before exams'). The adjective 'stressed out' is equally common.
Commonly used with
exam deadline money work traffic relationship
Forms
Base
stress out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stresses out
he/she/it
Past simple
stressed out
yesterday
Past participle
stressed out
have + pp
-ing form
stressing out
continuous
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Synonyms
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