WordGarden.ioseasickness
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈiːsɪknəs/
US
- /sˈiːsɪknəs/
Meanings
Noun
nausea and illness caused by motion on a boat or ship
Beyond the definition
Seasickness happens when the movement of a boat makes your body feel out of balance. Your inner ear feels the rocking and rolling, but your eyes may be looking at a part of the boat that seems still. This mixed message can make you feel sick, dizzy, weak, or ready to vomit. It is a common problem during sea travel, especially when the water is rough.
Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that happens when you travel on water and your brain gets mixed signals about movement. Your inner ear feels the motion of the boat or ship, while your eyes may be fixed on something that looks steady, such as the inside of a cabin. This mismatch can lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats, extra saliva, and a general feeling of discomfort.
Although people often connect it with ocean travel, it can happen on any kind of water, including lakes and rivers. The strength of the feeling can change a lot depending on the weather, the size of the boat, and how sensitive the person is to motion. Some people rarely feel it, while others get sick very quickly.
People have long tried to prevent it with remedies such as ginger, and today many also use medicine or simple habits to help, like looking at the horizon or staying where fresh air is available. In stories, seasickness can also show fear, weakness, or disorientation during a journey. It reminds us that even experienced travelers can be affected when the water turns rough.
Examples
- 1
Boat travel
I never get seasickness on big ships, but small boats are another story.
- 2
Prevention advice
If you're prone to seasickness, sit near the middle of the boat and look at the horizon.
- Patternprone to + condition
likely to be affected by it
- 3
Travel medicine
She packed ginger candies and tablets for seasickness before the island trip.
See also
Similar
- mal de mer
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- sea legs
Used with (collocations)
- suffer from seasickness
- seasickness pills
- prone to seasickness
Word family
Explore
- motion sickness
- travel sickness
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- seasicknessnoun