Weak Meaning
/wi(ː)k/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjLacking in force (usually strength) or ability.
adjUnable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.
Sentence Examples
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The strong will survive and the weak will die.
She is still weak after her illness.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old wooden bridge was too ____ to support the heavy truck crossing it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He felt a bit ____ after his illness, so he decided to take it easy and rest for a few days today.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man"
— c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"weak with hunger, mad with love"
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"The prospects for the global economy as outlined by the IMF are the third weakest since 2001, behind only the 2008 financial crisis and the worst phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Global growth has fallen below 2% just five times since 1970."
— 2022 October 11, Julia Horowitz, “‘The worst is yet to come’: IMF issues stark recession warning”, in CNN, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2025:
"Guard thy heart / On this weak side, where most our nature fails."
— 1703, Nicholas Rowe, The Fair Penitent, act I, scene I:
"'Cause sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I'm weak for you
Can't help myself
I love you and nobody else"
— 2065 April 23, “I Can't Help Myself”, in Four Tops Second Album, performed by The Four Tops:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old wooden bridge was too ____ to support the heavy truck crossing it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He felt a bit ____ after his illness, so he decided to take it easy and rest for a few days today.