symptom

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A physical or mental change in the body or mind that shows you may have an illness or condition.

   Grammar: Countable: you can have one symptom or several symptoms.

   Patterns

   • a symptom of something
   • show symptoms
   • develop symptoms

   A high fever is a common symptom of the flu.

   She showed no symptoms of the disease at first.

   The doctor asked about his symptoms, such as headache and fatigue.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A sign that something is wrong in a situation or system, not necessarily a medical one.

   Grammar: Often used with 'of': a symptom of a larger problem.

   Patterns

   • a symptom of something
   • be a symptom of something

   The rise in crime is a symptom of deeper social problems.

   Poor sales figures are a symptom of a weak economy.

   Many see the protests as a symptom of public dissatisfaction.

Word forms

Common combinations

common symptom

A cough is a common symptom of a cold.

show symptoms

Some people show symptoms of the virus within days.

symptom of

Fatigue can be a symptom of many conditions.

mild symptom

He had only mild symptoms and recovered quickly.

symptom relief

This medicine provides symptom relief for allergies.

Synonyms and how they differ

sign

A sign is a more general indication that something exists; a symptom is specifically felt or observed by a patient and often points to an illness.

indication

Indication is formal and broad, suggesting evidence of something; a symptom is usually a physical or mental change.

Word family

symptomatic adjective

Showing symptoms or typical of a condition: a symptomatic infection.

asymptomatic adjective

Having no symptoms: an asymptomatic carrier.

symptomatically adverb

In a way that relates to symptoms or is typical of a condition.

Commonly confused: symptom or sympathy?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “symptom”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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