Oxford Essential Dictionary
weak
adjective (weaker, weakest)
pronunciation
The word weak sounds just like week.
1 not powerful or strong:
She felt very weak after her long illness.
He is too weak to be a good leader.
opposite strong
2 Something that is weak can break easily:
The bridge is too weak to carry heavy traffic.
3 (used about a drink) containing a lot of water; not strong in taste:
I like my tea quite weak.
opposite strong
>> weakly adverb:
She smiled weakly at them.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
weak
weak S3 W2 /wiːk/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: weakling, weakness; verb: weaken; adverb: weakly; adjective: weak]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old Norse; Origin: veikr]
1. PHYSICAL not physically strong:
The illness left her feeling weak.
Poor light produces weak plants.
be too weak to do something
She’s too weak to feed herself.
weak with/from
Nina was weak with hunger.
The animal was weak from loss of blood.
weak heart/lungs etc
My grandfather had a weak heart.
2. LIKELY TO BREAK unable to support much weight:
a weak bridge
too weak to do something
The branch was too weak to support his weight.
3. CHARACTER easily influenced by other people – used to show disapproval:
a weak indecisive man
4. WITHOUT POWER not having much power or influence
weak leader/ruler/king etc
a weak and ineffective president
The party was left weak and divided.
The country is in a weak position economically.
5. WITHOUT INTEREST without the power to interest or amuse people:
The play is well acted but the plot is weak.
a weak joke
6. WITHOUT ENERGY done without energy or confidence:
He managed a weak smile.
7. NOT GOOD AT DOING SOMETHING not good at a particular skill or subject, or in a particular area of activity or knowledge
weak in
New Zealand was weak in defense.
weak on
She speaks quite fluently but she’s weak on grammar.
Be honest about your weak points (=your faults or the things you do not do well).
8. MONEY not financially successful
weak currency/economy etc
The pound was weak against the dollar.
9. ARGUMENT/IDEA not likely to make people believe that something is true or right:
She’s washing her hair? That sounds like a weak excuse!
There are some weak points in her argument.
The defence lawyer clearly knew that his case was weak.
10. DRINK weak tea, beer etc contains a lot of water and has little taste OPP strong
11. LIGHT/SOUND difficult to see or hear SYN faint:
a weak radio signal
He had only a weak light to see by.
12. weak points/spots the parts of something that can easily be attacked or criticized:
Check your house for weak spots where a thief could enter.
13. weak at the knees feeling strange because of strong emotions:
His smile made her go weak at the knees.
14. weak moment a time when you can be persuaded more easily than usual:
Dave caught me at a weak moment and I lent him £10.
15. the weak/weakest link the person or thing in a situation that is less strong, skilful etc than the others:
Goalkeeper Gouter proved to be the weakest link.
16. weak verb technical a verb that forms regular past tenses OPP strong verb
17. weak consonant/syllable one that is not emphasized
—weakly adverb:
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, smiling weakly.
He sank down weakly beside her.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ not physically strong
▪ weak not physically strong, sometimes because you are ill: Tom’s had flu and he’s still feeling weak. | The doctors said she was too weak to have an operation. | He suffered constantly from a weak chest.
▪ frail weak and thin, especially because you are old: a frail 85-year-old lady | My grandfather’s becoming quite frail now.
▪ shaky feeling weak in your legs and only able to walk slowly and unsteadily: When I came out of hospital I was a bit shaky for a while.
▪ puny /ˈpjuːni/ especially disapproving small, thin, and looking very weak: his puny white arms | He was a puny little boy who was often bullied at school.
▪ feeble especially written weak and unable to do much because you are very ill, very old or young: For a week she was too feeble to get out of bed. | a tiny, feeble baby
▪ delicate weak and often becoming ill easily: a delicate child | She had rather a delicate constitution (=her body easily became ill).
▪ infirm formal weak or ill for a long time, especially because you are old: a residential home for people who are elderly and infirm | There are special facilities for wheelchair users and infirm guests.
▪ malnourished formal weak or ill because you have not had enough good food to eat: Half a million people there are severely malnourished. | The organization provides emergency feeding for malnourished children.
■ likely to break
▪ weak unable to support much weight, and likely to break: The foundations of the building are rather weak. | an old chair with weak legs
▪ fragile made of a thin material that is easy to break or damage – used when something needs to be handled carefully: a fragile china vase | Be careful of those glasses – they’re very fragile.
▪ delicate easy to break or damage – used especially about soft materials, skin etc: Wash delicate fabrics separately. | This soap is good for delicate skin.
▪ flimsy not well-made from strong materials and so easily damaged – used about furniture, houses etc: a flimsy plastic table | This keyboard’s very cheap but it’s a bit flimsy.
▪ rickety /ˈrɪkəti, ˈrɪkɪti/ in very bad condition and likely to break – used about a building, piece of furniture, vehicle etc: a rickety old bicycle | He lived in a rickety hut on the beach for several years.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
weak
weak [weak weaker weakest] [wiːk] [wiːk] adjective (weaker, weakest)
NOT PHYSICALLY STRONG
1. not physically strong
• She is still weak after her illness.
• His legs felt weak.
• She suffered from a weak heart.
LIKELY TO BREAK
2. that cannot support a lot of weight; likely to break
• That bridge is too weak for heavy traffic.
WITHOUT POWER
3. easy to influence; not having much power
• a weak and cowardly man
• In a weak moment (= when I was easily persuaded) I said she could borrow the car.
• a weak leader
• The unions have always been weak in this industry.
POOR/SICK PEOPLE
4. the weak noun plural people who are poor, sick or without power
CURRENCY/ECONOMY
5. not financially strong or successful
• a weak currency
• The economy is very weak.
NOT GOOD AT STH
6. not good at sth
• a weak team
• ~ in sth I was always weak in the science subjects.
NOT CONVINCING
7. that people are not likely to believe or be persuaded by
Syn: unconvincing
• weak arguments
• I enjoyed the movie but I thought the ending was very weak.
HARD TO SEE/HEAR
8. not easily seen or heard
• a weak light/signal/sound
WITHOUT ENTHUSIASM
9. done without enthusiasm or energy
• a weak smile
• He made a weak attempt to look cheerful.
LIQUID
10. a weak liquid contains a lot of water
• weak tea
POINT/SPOT
11. ~ point/spot the part of a person's character, an argument, etc. that is easy to attack or criticize
• The team's weak points are in defence.
• He knew her weak spot where Steve was concerned.
GRAMMAR
12. a weak verb forms the past tense and past participle by adding a regular ending and not by changing a vowel. In English this is done by adding -d, -ed or -t (for example walk, walked)
PHONETICS
13. (of the pronunciation of some words) used when there is no stress on the word. For example, the weak form of and is /[ən] / or /[n] /, as in bread and butter /[ˌbred n ˈbʌtə(r)] /.
Opp: strong
more at the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak at spirit n.
Idioms: weak at the knees ▪ weak link
Word Origin:
Old English wāc ‘pliant’, ‘of little worth’, ‘not steadfast’, reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse veikr, from a Germanic base meaning ‘yield, give way’.
Example Bank:
• He was weak with hunger.
• He's weak in English.
• Her legs felt suddenly weak.
• She was weak from shock.
• She's rather weak at languages.
• The essay was a bit weak on detail.
• The judge decided the evidence was inherently weak and inconsistent.
• When the spasm passed, it left him weak and sweating.
• The case for the prosecution was rather weak.
• The weak winter sunlight spread across the lake.
• weak arguments/evidence
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
weak / wiːk / adjective (NOT STRONG)
B1 not strong, or not strong enough to work, last, succeed, persuade, or be effective:
It's not surprising you feel weak if you haven't eaten properly for days.
The electromagnetic field strength becomes weaker as you move further away from high voltage cables.
He was a weak king surrounded by corrupt advisers.
Any evidence that exists to support the hypothesis is fairly weak.
He gave the weakest of excuses when asked why he was late.
B2 describes a drink that contains a lot of water compared to its other contents, so that it does not have a strong flavour:
I can't stand weak coffee/tea.
specialized describes an acid, alkali, or chemical base that does not produce many ions (= atoms with an electrical charge) when it is dissolved in water
weakly / -li / adverb
"The pain seems to have eased a little with these new tablets," he said weakly.
weak / wiːk / adjective (NOT GOOD)
B1 not good enough, especially in ability, skill, or quality:
He was always weak at/in languages but strong at/in science.
Our quiz team is a bit weak on sport.
In the end I think the film was spoilt by a weak story line.
weakly / -li / adverb
"The pain seems to have eased a little with these new tablets," he said weakly.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
weak
[wi͟ːk]
♦♦
weaker, weakest
1) ADJ-GRADED If someone is weak, they are not healthy or do not have good muscles, so that they cannot move quickly or carry heavy things.
I was too weak to move or think or speak...
His arms and legs were weak.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakly ADV-GRADED ADV with v `I'm all right,' Max said weakly, but his breathing came in jagged gasps... He weakly pressed his arms against her sides.
weakness N-UNCOUNT Symptoms of anaemia include weakness, fatigue and iron deficiency.
2) ADJ-GRADED If someone has an organ or sense that is weak, it is not very effective or powerful, or is likely to fail.
Until the beating, Cantanco's eyesight had been weak, but adequate...
She tired easily and had a weak heart.
3) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone as weak, you mean that they are not very confident or determined, so that they are often frightened or worried, or easily influenced by other people.
He was a nice doctor, but a weak man who wasn't going to stick his neck out...
You have been conditioned to believe that it is weak to be scared.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakness N-UNCOUNT Many people felt that admitting to stress was a sign of weakness.
4) ADJ-GRADED If you describe someone's voice or smile as weak, you mean that it not very loud or big, suggesting that the person lacks confidence, enthusiasm, or physical strength.
His weak voice was almost inaudible...
He managed a weak smile.
Syn:
feeble
Derived words:
weakly ADV-GRADED ADV after v He smiled weakly at reporters.
5) ADJ-GRADED If an object or surface is weak, it breaks easily and cannot support a lot of weight or resist a lot of strain.
The owner said the bird may have escaped through a weak spot in the aviary...
Swimming is helpful for bones that are porous and weak.
Ant:
strong
6) ADV-GRADED A weak physical force does not have much power or intensity.
The molecules in regular liquids are held together by relatively weak bonds...
Strong winds can turn boats when the tide is weak.
...the weak winter sun.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakly ADV-GRADED ADV adj/-ed, ADV after v The mineral is weakly magnetic... Down through the trees the wind whooshed weakly, like a sick child.
7) ADJ-GRADED If individuals or groups are weak, they do not have any power or influence.
The council was too weak to do anything about it.
Syn:
powerless
Derived words:
weakness N-UNCOUNT It made me feel patronised, in a position of weakness.
N-PLURAL: the N
The weak are people who are weak. He voiced his solidarity with the weak and defenceless.
8) ADJ-GRADED A weak government or leader does not have much control, and is not prepared or able to act firmly or severely.
The changes come after mounting criticism that the government is weak and indecisive...
The chief editorial writer also blames weak leadership for the current crisis.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakly ADV-GRADED ...the weakly-led movement for reform.
weakness N-UNCOUNT Officials fear that he might interpret the emphasis on diplomacy as a sign of weakness.
9) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something such a country's currency, economy, industry, or government as weak, you mean that it is not successful, and may be likely to fail or collapse.
The weak dollar means American goods are relative bargains for foreigners...
When the economy is weak, it's very hard for suppliers to raise their prices.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakness N-UNCOUNT usu with poss The weakness of his regime is showing more and more... The pound's weakness compounded the widespread gloom in the City.
10) ADJ-GRADED If something such as an argument or case is weak, it is not convincing or there is little evidence to support it.
Do you think the prosecution made any particular errors, or did they just have a weak case?...
The claim exposed a weak point in the structure of facts upon which his argument rested...
The evidence against him was weak and insufficient.
Syn:
flimsy
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakly ADV-GRADED ADV before v The doctor also rather weakly puts the case that the mother-to-be has many relatives.
weakness plural N-VAR ...the strengths and weaknesses of the government's case... The Law recognises the weakness of claims based on retrospective knowledge.
11) ADJ-GRADED A weak drink, chemical, or drug contains very little of a particular substance, for example because a lot of water has been added to it.
Grace poured a cup of weak tea...
You can neutralise the smell by wiping the plaster with a very weak bleach solution.
Ant:
strong
12) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ on n Your weak points are the qualities or talents you do not possess, or the things you are not very good at.
You may very well be asked what your weak points are. Don't try to claim you don't have any...
Geography was my weak subject...
His short stories tend to be weak on plot.
Ant:
strong
Derived words:
weakness N-VAR His only weakness is his temperament... There's some weakness in their teaching ability.
13) ADJ-GRADED You can say that someone has a weak chin to indicate that their chin is not large, especially when you want to suggest that they do not have a strong character.
She was a plain-looking woman with a weak chin.
Ant:
strong
14) → See also weakness
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
weak
weak /ˈwiːk/ adj weak·er; -est [also more ~; most ~]
1 : having little physical power or ability : not strong
• He has a weak throwing arm.
• The illness left her too weak to stand up.
• The child was born with weak lungs.
• weak eyes/eyesight
2 : having little power or force
• The batter hit a weak ground ball.
• a weak punch
• weak winds
• She uttered her reply in a weak voice.
3 : likely to break or stop working properly : not able to handle weight, pressure, or strain
• The door's hinge is weak.
• a weak rope
4 disapproving
a : having little power or influence
• He proved to be a weak and ineffectual leader.
b : not able to make good decisions or deal with difficult situations
• Some see compromise as a sign of a weak character.
• In a weak moment [=during a brief time when I had bad judgment] I told them my secret.
5 a : lacking enough or the usual amount of an important ingredient
• This tea is weak. [=it has little tea flavor]
• weak cocktails [=cocktails that contain less than the usual amount of alcohol]
• a weak bleach solution [=a mixture of water and a small amount of bleach]
b : not powerful in action or effect
• a weak drug
• a country with weak environmental laws
• a weak radio signal
6 : not likely to persuade or convince people that something is true, real, correct, etc.
• Her arguments in support of the theory were weak.
• He gave a weak excuse for being late.
• The prosecution has a weak case.
7 : not having enough skill or ability
• Many of the students are weak in math and science.
• The team is weak on defense.
8 : failing to produce the result that is wanted : not effective
• The pun was a weak attempt at humor.
• The novel's plot was weak. [=it did not make sense, did not seem realistic, etc.]
9 : showing little confidence or enthusiasm
• He gave only a weak smile.
10 a : having a value that is small or is not increasing : less valuable
• The dollar is weak.
b : in a poor financial condition
• a weak economy
• a weak housing market [=a situation in which few people are buying houses]
11 : dull or pale
• The weak winter light shone through the window.
• weak colors
12 : smaller than the usual size
• a man with a weak chin
13 grammar : following the normal patterns by which the past tenses of verbs are usually formed : regular
• Since “work” is a weak verb, its past tense is “worked.”
a weak stomach
- see 1stomach
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
- see 1spirit
the weak : weak people
• the weak and the powerful
weak at/in the knees : so nervous or powerfully affected that it is difficult for you to stand
• The announcement made me weak at the knees.
• She said hello to me and I went weak in the knees.
- weak·ly adv
• He smiled weakly at me. synonyms weak, feeble, and frail mean lacking strength. weak is a general word that can describe either a temporary or permanent lack of strength.
• He felt weak after his illness.
• I'm too weak to lift that heavy box by myself. feeble stresses the kind of very great weakness that often makes other people feel pity or sympathy.
• Feeble with hunger, the dog was found wandering in the streets. frail is usually used to describe a very weak person who is easily injured especially because of illness or age.
• a frail and sickly child
• She became very frail in her old age.