psych
psych — noun
- psychsingular
- psychesplural
1. the field or school subject that studies how people think, feel, and behave.
the field or school subject that studies how people think, feel, and behave.
Femi chose psych instead of economics during second year.
choose psych as a subject at university
The psych lecture on memory filled the largest room on campus.
psych lecture in an academic setting
Hui stayed late to finish her psych reading before the lab meeting.
Our psych class discussed why stress changes the way people decide.
- psychology
the full and more formal name of the subject
文法句型
study psych
psych class
major in psych
用法筆記
Most common in student talk and casual conversation. In formal writing, people usually use the full word 'psychology'.
常見錯誤
2. a psychologist, especially when people speak casually in schools, clinics, or ev
a psychologist, especially when people speak casually in schools, clinics, or everyday talk.
The school psych met Karim after the panic attack in class.
school psych in an educational setting
Ritu asked the psych to explain the test results to her parents.
After months of poor sleep, Obi finally booked time with a psych.
The clinic psych taught Quinn a breathing exercise before the exam.
- psychologist
the full and neutral term
- therapist
broader; not every therapist is a psychologist
文法句型
see a psych
school psych
clinic psych
用法筆記
This sense usually refers to a psychologist rather than a medical doctor. Distinguish it from noun/3, which refers to a psychiatrist.
常見錯誤
3. a psychiatrist, especially the doctor who diagnoses mental illness or manages re
a psychiatrist, especially the doctor who diagnoses mental illness or manages related treatment.
The ER doctor called the psych after Lien stopped speaking.
psych as the mental-health doctor
Christopher's psych adjusted the medication after the side effects returned.
psych managing medication
The ward psych signed the discharge plan before Renata went home.
Caio sees a psych each month to manage bipolar illness.
- psychiatrist
the full and neutral medical term
文法句型
call the psych
see a psych
ward psych
用法筆記
This sense points to the medical specialist, not the counselor or tester in noun/2. It often appears in hospital, ward, or medication contexts.
常見錯誤
psych — adjective
- psychpositive
- psychercomparative
- psychestsuperlative
1. connected with mental illness or with the medical care used to treat it.
connected with mental illness or with the medical care used to treat it.
The hospital opened a psych unit beside the emergency ward.
psych + unit in hospital care
Lien packed clean socks before her brother's psych appointment downtown.
A psych nurse checked the new patient's blood pressure at dawn.
The school arranged psych support after the bus crash.
- psychiatric
the full and more formal adjective
文法句型
psych unit
psych nurse
psych appointment
用法筆記
This sense is used for clinical services, hospital units, and care related to mental illness. Distinguish it from adjective/2, which is about thoughts and feelings more generally.
常見錯誤
2. connected with thoughts, emotions, or the way the mind reacts.
connected with thoughts, emotions, or the way the mind reacts.
The coach knew the missed shot had a psych effect on the team.
psych effect on feelings or confidence
Students took a short psych test before joining the sleep study.
psych + test for mental traits
The detective built a psych profile from the letters and phone calls.
Too much psych pressure made the rookie rush every serve.
- psychological
the full and neutral adjective
- mental
broader and often less technical
文法句型
psych effect
psych test
psych profile
用法筆記
This sense is broader than adjective/1. It is about mental reactions, patterns, or emotional pressure rather than clinical treatment.
常見錯誤
psych — exclamation
1. said after you fool someone, or to show that what you just said was only a joke.
said after you fool someone, or to show that what you just said was only a joke.
"The test is tomorrow." "Psych, it's next week," said Hui.
Psych, + correction after a prank
Quinn pointed at the empty lot and shouted, "Psych! The concert is inside the mall."
"I sold your bike." "Psych, it's still in the garage," Karim laughed.
Renata opened the gift box, then grinned: "Psych, your present is under the table."
- just kidding
a clearer and more neutral way to cancel a joke
- gotcha
used when the speaker means the trick succeeded
文法句型
Psych, + correction
Psych! + reveal
用法筆記
Often used immediately after a playful lie or trick. It sounds dated to some speakers, but it still appears in joking speech and older teen slang.
常見錯誤
psych — verb
- psychpresent simple I / you / we / they
- psyches3rd person singular
- psyching-ing form
- psychedpast simple
1. to make yourself or another person mentally ready for a hard event or performanc
to make yourself or another person mentally ready for a hard event or performance.
Karim listens to loud music to psych himself before each race.
psych yourself before a performance
The coach psyched the team in the tunnel before kickoff.
psych + team before competition
Ritu needed ten quiet minutes to psych herself before the interview.
Obi's father told a joke to psych Obi for the piano solo.
文法句型
psych yourself before + event
psych + someone + for + performance
用法筆記
Often used before races, exams, interviews, or performances. Unlike verb/2, this sense is supportive and aims to build confidence.
常見錯誤
2. to make someone feel nervous or beaten before they act.
to make someone feel nervous or beaten before they act.
The louder team tried to psych Renata before the final serve.
psych + opponent before competition
A week of online insults almost psyched the new singer.
The tall goalie used a hard stare to psych the penalty taker.
Flashing cameras can psych young speakers before they reach the stage.
- intimidate
more formal and direct
- shake
focuses on making confidence weaker
- unsettle
broader and not always competitive
文法句型
psych + person + before + event
psych + opponent
用法筆記
This sense is common in sports, contests, and tense face-to-face situations. Unlike verb/1, it weakens confidence instead of building it.
常見錯誤
3. to read what someone is likely to do, or to work a situation out from small clue
to read what someone is likely to do, or to work a situation out from small clues.
Obi watched the dealer's hands, trying to psych the dealer's next move.
psych + next move from small clues
The captain could psych the room after one minute of silence.
psych the room by reading mood
After two practice rounds, Quinn psyched the route through the maze.
Ritu psyched the delay as soon as the station lights went dark.
- figure out
broader and less strategic
- read
shorter and common in cards or people-watching
- outguess
stronger when you beat the other person
文法句型
psych + next move
psych + the room
psych + situation
用法筆記
This sense appears in strategy, game, and performance talk. It often suggests quick judgment from tiny signals rather than formal analysis.
常見錯誤
4. to study someone's hidden feelings and motives in the detailed way a psychoanaly
to study someone's hidden feelings and motives in the detailed way a psychoanalyst would.
Christopher loves to psych every text message after a first date.
psych + message by overanalyzing motives
The host tried to psych the singer instead of asking simple questions.
Don't psych your brother's dream about the elevator so much.
Our tutor warned us not to psych every pause in the interview.
- psychoanalyze
the full and more formal verb
- analyze
broader and not always about hidden motives
- interpret
weaker; often used for dreams, art, or behavior
文法句型
psych + message
psych + dream
psych + pause
用法筆記
Usually said when someone is reading too much hidden meaning into behavior, words, or dreams. It is much narrower than verb/3, which is about quickly figuring things out.