Meaning & use
physical
Relating to the body or to material things, rather than to the mind, emotions, or spirit.
See it in a sentence
Recovering from the surgery required months of physical therapy to rebuild her strength.
Beyond the physical damage, the storm left many residents emotionally shaken for weeks.
A note on using this word
As a noun, a physical refers informally to a medical examination, as in schedule your annual physical.
Words with a similar meaning
bodilymaterial
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
mentalemotional
Another way to use it
2. noun
A medical examination to check a person's general state of health.
The coach required every player to pass a physical before the season began.
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