WordGarden.iosick
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɪk/
US
- /ˈsɪk/
Meanings
Adjective
ill, unwell, or nauseated
disgusted, fed up, or deeply tired of something
(informal)morally disturbing, cruel, or twisted
More meaningsFewer meanings
(slang)excellent, impressive, or very cool
Beyond the definition
"Sick" most commonly means not feeling well—having an illness like a cold or the flu. You might be "sick in bed" with a fever, needing rest and chicken soup. But "sick" is not always about health. It can also describe something disturbing, cruel, or deeply wrong. If you see someone do something awful, you might say, "That's sick!" In casual slang, though, people also use "sick" to mean amazing or very impressive, like a great skateboard trick. And in the phrase "sick of," it means tired of or fed up with something. The context tells you which meaning is intended.
The word "sick" has surprisingly diverse meanings, stemming from its original sense of being physically unwell. Most commonly, it describes a state of illness or poor health. If you have a fever, cough, and aches, you're likely feeling sick and need to see a doctor. In many regions, it specifically implies feeling nauseous or the need to vomit. This is the most traditional understanding: "She called in sick to work because she had a stomach virus."
However, "sick" has evolved significantly in modern English. It is frequently used to express strong disapproval or disgust. Saying a behavior or a joke is "sick" means it is shocking, offensive, or cruel. ("The way he treated that animal was truly sick.")
Interestingly, "sick" also developed a highly positive connotation in youth culture and extreme sports. In this context, "sick" means excellent, impressive, or extraordinary. ("That guitar solo was absolutely sick!") This usage is a form of "reverse slang," where a word with a negative literal meaning is used to describe something incredibly cool.
Finally, "sick" is often paired with the preposition "of" to describe a state of being fed up. If you are "sick of" something, you are tired of it and have no more patience for it. ("I'm sick of waiting in this long line.")
So, while "sick" initially meant unwell, it now navigates a broad spectrum of meanings from physical illness and moral disgust to admiration and weariness. Pay close attention to the speaker's tone to decipher the true meaning!
Examples
- 1
Everyday illness
She stayed home from work because she was sick.
- 2
Nausea
I started to feel sick after the boat trip.
- Phrasefeel sick
feel like you might vomit
- 3
Flu illness
Both kids were sick with the flu last week.
- Patternsick with + illness
ill because of it
- 4
Workplace absence
He called in sick and went back to bed.
- Phrasecall in sick
tell your workplace or school that you are ill
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Annoyance
I'm sick of hearing the same excuse.
- Patternsick of + noun/-ing
tired of or annoyed by it
- 6
Physical reaction
The smell of spoiled milk made me sick.
- 7
Moral reaction
It really makes me sick when people treat animals badly.
- Phrasemakes me sick
makes me feel disgusted or angry
- 8
Informal praise
That guitar solo was sick.
- Usage
informal: extremely good or impressive
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sicknounadjectiveverb
Forms
- sickercomparativeadjectivenounverb
- sickestsuperlativeadjectivenounverb