WordGarden.iostomach
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈʌmək/
US
- /ˈstəmək/
Meanings
Noun
the organ in the body where food is held and digested
Verb
to accept or endure something unpleasant
Beyond the definition
We all have a stomach—that muscular organ inside us responsible for breaking down the food we eat! But "stomach" isn't just about digestion. It can also refer to your belly or even those gut feelings you get. If you have "butterflies in your stomach," it means you're nervous!
Think of a full stomach after a big meal, or an empty stomach rumbling with hunger. Sometimes people say something "upsets their stomach," meaning it makes them feel nauseated or sick. And if you have the courage to do something difficult, you might say you "have the stomach" for it!
The stomach is a muscular organ in the digestive system responsible for storing food and beginning the process of breaking it down. It's where that delicious pizza starts its journey through your body! Scientists describe it as a J-shaped pouch, but we often use "stomach" more broadly to refer to the abdomen or belly—the area on your front between your chest and hips.
But "stomach" goes beyond just anatomy; it is also closely linked with our emotions in everyday language. We talk about having a "gut feeling," which means a strong inner sense about something, and we often feel nerves in this part of the body. If you have "butterflies in your stomach," you feel nervous. If something is so unpleasant that you can hardly deal with it, you might say you "don't have the stomach" for it. If something "turns your stomach," it makes you feel disgusted or sick.
Figuratively, "stomach" can also describe capacity or tolerance. Someone with little patience might be said to have "no stomach for delays." And if you're feeling particularly brave, you might say you've got the "stomach" for a challenge!
So, whether it's digesting lunch, experiencing nervousness, or facing a difficult situation, the word "stomach" encompasses both physical function and emotional response.
Examples
- 1
Hunger sound
My stomach started growling halfway through the meeting.
- 2
Food reaction
Rich food always upsets my stomach.
- 3
Medical advice
The doctor told me not to drink coffee on an empty stomach.
- Phraseon an empty stomach
without eating first
- 4
Short illness
She missed school because of a stomach bug.
- Phrasea stomach bug
a short illness that affects your stomach
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Stress reaction
I always get a tight feeling in my stomach before exams.
- 6
Nervous feeling
He had butterflies in his stomach as he waited for the results.
- Phrasebutterflies in your stomach
a nervous feeling
- 7
Sensory disgust
I can't stomach the smell of raw fish.
- Patterncan't stomach + thing
can't accept or deal with it
- 8
Moral rejection
She couldn't stomach his excuse and left the room.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- stomachnounverb
Forms
- stomachspluralnounverb
- stomachedpast tensepast participleverbnoun
- stomaching-ing formverbnoun