weak

CEFRA1

/wi(ː)k/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Not strong, powerful, or physically healthy.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Limp, soft.

Examples

  • She is still weak after her illness.

  • The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [wɪik]

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.

  2. Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.

  3. Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.

More examples

In context

  • The strong will survive and the weak will die.

  • The child was too weak to move the boulder.

  • They easily guessed his weak computer password.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The old wooden bridge was too blank to support the heavy truck crossing it.

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English weyk, wayk, weik, waik, borrowed from Old Norse veikr (“weak”), from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz (“weak, yielded, pliant, bendsome”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Old English wāc (“weak, bendsome”), Saterland Frisian wook (“soft, gentle, tender”), West Frisian weak (“soft”), Dutch week (“soft, weak”), German weich (“weak, soft”), Norwegian veik (“weak”), Swedish vek (“weak, pliant”), Icelandic veikur (“bendsome, weak”). Related to Old English wīcan (“to yield”). Related to week and wick. The grammar sense is a calque of German schwach.