A2noun1K

Stomach

UK /["/ˈstʌmək/"]/US /["/ˈstʌmək/"]/

Definition

the organ inside the body where food goes when you eat it

In simple words: The part of the body where food goes after you eat.

Examples

  • I felt a sharp pain in my stomach after eating too much.
  • She rubbed her stomach gently to ease the discomfort.
  • After a long jog, he was very hungry and his stomach growled.
  • He wants to have a flat stomach for the summer.
  • Dogs help ease the tension in your stomach when you're feeling anxious.
  • She has a stomach for spicy food, unlike most of her friends.
  • The doctor diagnosed her with a stomach virus.
  • He couldn't believe how much he had eaten; it felt like his stomach was going to burst.

Usage notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts. Appropriate in medical discussions, casual conversation, and cooking. Less appropriate in very technical or scientific language where more specific terms are used.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'stomach' as 'stomach ache' when you don't feel good after eating.

Collocations

  • empty
  • full
  • dodgy
  • turn
  • settle
  • settle in
  • churn
  • heave
  • lurch
  • ache
  • ailment
  • bug
  • in the/​your stomach
  • the contents of your stomach
  • feel sick to your stomach
  • something makes you sick to your stomach

Synonyms

  • belly
  • abdomen
  • tum
  • paunch
  • gut

Antonyms

  • appetite
  • desire

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'tummy' - 'tummy' is more informal.
  • Using 'stomach' when referring to the digestive system as a whole.
  • Mispronouncing it as 'stomack'.