Sick Meaning
Sick Definition & Usage
In a state of physical illness or discomfort.
Examples
- "She's feeling sick and had to stay home from school."
- "I think I caught a cold. My throat is sore and my head feels sick."
- "John was sick all week, but he's starting to feel better now."
- "I can't go out tonight; I'm sick with the flu."
- "He looks really sick, maybe he should see a doctor."
Experiencing feelings of disgust, disappointment, or moral disapproval.
Examples
- "That behavior is sickening; I can't believe he did that."
- "It's sick how people can be so cruel to others."
- "The way he lied to her was absolutely sick."
- "She was sickened by the news of the injustice."
- "His treatment of animals is sick, and it needs to stop."
Used informally to describe something that is impressive, cool, or extraordinary.
Examples
- "That skateboard trick was sick! How did you do that?"
- "You got front row tickets to the concert? That's sick!"
- "His new car is sick, man. It’s got all the features."
- "The party last night was sick! Best night ever."
- "Did you see that sick move in the game last night?"
A condition of being ill or unwell.
Examples
- "He’s got a bad sick and can’t come in today."
- "I’ve been battling this sick for over a week."
- "The sick going around school is contagious, so be careful."
- "She was out sick for a few days after the surgery."
- "The doctor diagnosed him with a stomach sick."
Cultural Context
The word 'sick' has multiple meanings in modern English, and its use can vary greatly depending on context. Originally, it simply referred to being unwell or ill, but over time, it has been adapted into slang to describe something impressive or 'cool'. The meaning of being 'sick' in a negative moral sense (i.e., something disturbing or morally wrong) has also gained prominence, especially in discussions of social issues.
The Skateboarder’s Sick Trick
Story
The Skateboarder’s Sick Trick
It was the final day of the summer break, and Jake, a 16-year-old skateboarder, had been practicing all morning at the local skate park. His best friend, Tim, watched from the sidelines, leaning against the railing with a bottle of water in hand. "You’ve got this, man," Tim called out, his voice filled with excitement. Jake had been working on a new trick for weeks, and today was the day he planned to pull it off. As Jake took his run, he flew up the ramp with remarkable speed, spinning in midair before landing perfectly on the other side. Tim shouted, "That was sick, bro!" He couldn’t believe his eyes. The trick was flawless, a perfect combination of skill and daring. But the day wasn’t just about tricks on the board. Earlier that week, Jake’s mom had been feeling unwell, struggling with a cold that had kept her bedridden for days. Jake had spent most of his time helping around the house, making sure she took her medicine and rested. Today, however, was the first day she felt better. When she walked outside to watch Jake practice, she smiled weakly, still recovering from her sick. "Jake, I’m so glad you’re doing well... but that trick was sick, for real!" she said, her voice a little hoarse. Later that afternoon, the two friends went to grab some lunch at their favorite diner. As they sat down to eat, they overheard a conversation at the next table. A group of people were discussing an incident where a local politician had been caught in a lie, and one person said, "It’s sick, what he did. I can’t believe people like that are in power." Jake and Tim exchanged looks. The tone was disgusted—there was no doubt that the word ‘sick’ was used to express moral outrage, not admiration. As they finished their meal, Tim shook his head. "It’s crazy how one word can mean so many different things," he mused. Jake agreed. "Yeah, from ‘cool’ to ‘gross,’ it’s a word that really packs a punch." The two of them laughed, heading back to the park to finish their last round of skateboarding before school started. In the end, Jake learned that the meaning of 'sick' was more flexible than he had ever imagined. It could express admiration, disgust, or simple physical illness—all depending on the context.
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