The phrasal verb 'stress out' is predominantly used in informal contexts, most common in conversational English among friends, family, or colleagues. It conveys the idea of causing someone to feel anxious or overwhelmed, often due to pressure or challenging situations. You might hear it in sentences like "The upcoming exams really stress me out," or "I always stress out when I have to meet tight deadlines at work." The casual nature of this expression makes it less likely to appear in formal written communication, where alternatives like "to cause anxiety" or "to induce stress" would be preferred. 'Stress out' is often used in various tense forms, such as stressed out, stressing out, etc., and typically involves a personal reaction or emotional state. Its informality and emotive force make it a staple in everyday speech, especially in Western English-speaking cultures.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To feel extremely worried or anxious about something.
I tend to stress out easily before exams.
The constant demands of work can really stress people out.
She stressed out over the upcoming job interview.
Don't stress out about things you can't control.
Trying to plan the perfect wedding is stressing her out.