unstressed

/ˌʌnˈstrest/ (bre, ipa) · [ənstrˈɛst] /ˌʌnˈstrest/ (ame, ipa) · [ənstrˈɛst] /ˌən-ˈstrest How to pronounce unstressed (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unstressed — adjective

  • unstressedpositive
  • more unstressedcomparative
  • most unstressedsuperlative

1. free from worry or pressure; in a mental state where nothing is making you feel

1.形容詞B2
釋義

free from worry or pressure; in a mental state where nothing is making you feel tense or anxious — for example, after finishing a big project or taking time off work.

例句

After her exams ended, Folake felt completely unstressed for the first time in weeks.

feel + unstressed + completely

A long weekend in the mountains left Vinícius feeling unstressed and full of energy.

leave [person] feeling unstressed

同義詞
  • relaxed

    suggests a more lasting state or personality trait; 'unstressed' is more about the current absence of pressure

  • calm

    implies emotional steadiness even in difficult situations; 'unstressed' focuses on lack of pressure

  • carefree

    suggests a lighthearted attitude without responsibilities; stronger and more informal than 'unstressed'

反義詞
  • stressed

    direct opposite; feeling mental or emotional pressure

  • anxious

    more intense, involving worry or fear, not just pressure

文法句型

feel + unstressed

remain + unstressed

用法筆記

Commonly describes a temporary state that contrasts with a previous or expected period of stress. Unlike 'relaxed', it is rarely used to describe a person's general character.

常見錯誤

She is an unstressed person.
She feels unstressed after the holiday.
💡'unstressed' describes a temporary state, not a permanent personality trait.

2. pronounced with less force, volume, or length than other parts of the same word;

2.形容詞C1
釋義

pronounced with less force, volume, or length than other parts of the same word; describing a syllable that is said more quietly and quickly than the syllable carrying the main emphasis.

例句

In the word 'banana,' the first syllable is unstressed and very short.

syllable + be + unstressed

Aoi noticed that unstressed vowels in English often sound like a weak 'uh' sound.

unstressed + vowel

同義詞
  • unaccented

    more technical, used in linguistics; means the same as 'unstressed'

  • weak

    common in language teaching ('weak form', 'weak syllable'); less formal than 'unstressed'

  • light

    informal term used by teachers to describe syllables with little emphasis

反義詞
  • stressed

    receiving emphasis; opposite in phonetics

  • accented

    carrying the main stress; more formal term

文法句型

unstressed + syllable

unstressed + vowel

syllable + be + unstressed

用法筆記

Used especially in phonetics and language teaching. In English, unstressed syllables often contain reduced vowels (such as the schwa sound /ə/).

常見錯誤

This word has an unbalanced stress.
This word has an unstressed syllable.
💡'unstressed' describes individual syllables, not the overall stress pattern.