student asking question

Can I use "someone is in distress" as well?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, someone can be "in distress!" If "someone is in distress," it means they're upset, anxious, or in pain. I would say it is slightly formal in tone, but it's still usable in conversation. Ex: It seemed like she was in distress when she heard the news. Ex: The company is in distress due to the scandal. Ex: I've been in distress for the past couple of weeks.

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