adj
Common
chronic
KRON-ihk
Chronic (adj) means lasting for a long time or recurring frequently, especially of an illness or problem. Example: “Chronic tiredness made it hard for her to concentrate at work.”
adj
1
Lasting for a long time or recurring frequently, especially of an illness or problem.
"Chronic tiredness made it hard for her to concentrate at work."
"He suffers from chronic back pain."
"Chronic underfunding has left the department struggling."
2
Slang: excellent or impressive.
"That new track is absolutely chronic."
noun
1
Slang for high-quality marijuana.
"He said the chronic he'd bought was the best he'd had in years."
How to use chronic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLong-lasting or constantly recurring, usually describing a persistent illness or problem.
Common mistake
In medicine, chronic (long-lasting) is the opposite of acute (sudden and severe) — the two are often confused.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
chronic illness
chronic pain
chronic shortage
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Word forms
- Plural
- chronics
- Comparative
- more chronic
- Superlative
- most chronic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ tiredness made it hard for her to concentrate at work.
Etymology
From Old French cronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek khronikós (\"of time\"), from khrónos (\"time\").
Synonyms
View more →
persistent
long-standing
recurrent
constant
habitual
incurable
inveterate
continuing
prolonged
terrible
splendid
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for chronic
See all rhymes for chronic →Frequently asked questions
What does “chronic” mean?
The word “chronic” means lasting for a long time or recurring frequently, especially of an illness or problem. In plain terms, long-lasting or constantly recurring, usually describing a persistent illness or problem.
How do you pronounce “chronic”?
“Chronic” is pronounced KRON-ihk (/ˈkɹɑ.nɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “chronic” in a sentence?
Here is “chronic” used in a sentence: “He suffers from chronic back pain.”
What is another word for “chronic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chronic” include prolonged, terrible and splendid.
What is the opposite of “chronic”?
The opposite of “chronic” — its antonyms — are acute and transient.
What part of speech is “chronic”?
Depending on how it is used, “chronic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “chronic” come from?
The word “chronic” comes from Latin. From Old French cronique, from Latin chronicus, from Greek khronikós (\"of time\"), from khrónos (\"time\").
Is “chronic” a common word?
“Chronic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between chronic and acute?
Chronic describes a condition that lasts a long time or recurs frequently, while acute describes one that is severe and comes on suddenly but is usually short-lived. A chronic illness persists over months or years, whereas an acute illness has a rapid onset and a shorter course.
What is the difference between chronic and persistent?
Both suggest something that continues over time. Chronic is most often used for long-lasting illnesses or problems and can imply they are hard to cure, while persistent simply means continuing steadily and can describe almost anything, from rain to effort.
When should you use chronic instead of severe?
Use chronic to describe how long something lasts or how often it recurs, not how intense it is. Severe describes strength or seriousness, so a problem can be chronic (long-lasting) without being severe, or severe without being chronic.
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