Emotions

Generated image of a woman with a tense expression

Photographic Dictionary / Generated illustration

Tis forTense

You are tense if you are worried or stressed about something. When you are tense you tighten up your muscles. Tightening your muscles on purpose is also called tensing them.

Emotions

Sugar Pond / CC BY-SA

Tis forTired

You are tired when you are sleepy and need to go to bed, or when you have worked really hard and are exhausted and worn out. The little boy in the picture is very tired.

Emotions, Sleep

Photographic Dictionary / Generated illustration

Uis forUnhappy

Someone is unhappy if they are sad or dissatisfied, particularly with their situation.

Emotions

Bridget Coila / CC BY-SA

You upset something when you disturb it. You can upset your stomach by eating bad food, or you can upset a pile of something by knocking it over. But when most people say upset they mean to disturb someone's emotions, which often makes them sad and agitated. The child in the picture is upset.

Emotions

Dallas Krentzel / CC BY-SA

Vis forVain

Someone is vain if they are overly interested in their own appearance, achievements or other things about themselves. Vain is also another word for futile, as in "I tried in vain".

Emotions

Emilio Labrador / CC BY-SA

Wis forWince

You wince when you are struck with a sudden pain. When you wince, you jerk away from the pain, or pull a pained facial expression.

Emotions

Foxtongue / CC BY-SA

Wis forWorry

You are worried about something when you are thinking about it a lot, and it is keeping you from being happy. People can be worried about money, or a job interview, or how they have gone in an exam they just took.

Emotions