Translate distress | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of distress
noun
1extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain:to his distress he saw that she was trembling the state of a ship or aircraft when in danger or difficulty and needing help:vessels in distress on or near the coast suffering caused by lack of money or the basic necessities of life:the poor were helped in their distress Medicine a state of physical strain, exhaustion, or, in particular, breathing difficulty:they said the baby was in distress
verb
[with object] 1cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain:I didn’t mean to distress you [with object and infinitive]:he was distressed to find that Anna would not talk to him
2give (furniture, leather, or clothing) simulated marks of age and wear:the manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed
