Physical qualities, actions, or things are connected with a person's body, rather than with their mind.
...the physical and mental problems caused by the illness.
Physical activity promotes good health.
The attraction between them is physical.
Synonyms: corporal, fleshly, bodily, carnal More Synonyms of physical
physicallyadverb [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
You may be physically and mentally exhausted after a long flight.
...people who cannot physically use a telephone.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Physical things are real things that can be touched and seen, rather than ideas or spoken words.
All he needed was a little room, a physical and spiritual place to call home.
...physical evidence to support the story.
...the physical similarities among the towns.
Synonyms: material, real, substantial [formal], natural More Synonyms of physical
physicallyadverb
...physically cut off from every other country.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Physical means relating to the structure, size, or shape of something that can be touched and seen.
...the physical characteristics of the terrain.
...the physical properties (weight, volume, hardness, etc.) of a substance.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Physical means connected with physics or the laws of physics.
...the physical laws of combustion and thermodynamics.
5. adjective
Someone who is physical touches people a lot, either in an affectionate way or in a rough way.
We decided that in the game we would be physical and aggressive.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Physical is used in expressions such as physical love and physical relationships to refer to sexual relationships between people.
the book celebrated the sublime joys of physical love.
It had been years since they had shared any meaningful form of physical relationship.
7. countable noun
A physical is a medical examination, done in order to see if someone is fit and well enough to do a particular job or to join the army.
Bob failed his physical.
Routine physicals are done by a nurse.
More Synonyms of physical
physical in British English
(ˈfɪzɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of or relating to the body, as distinguished from the mind or spirit
2.
of, relating to, or resembling material things or nature
the physical universe
3.
involving or requiring bodily contact
rugby is a physical sport
4.
of or concerned with matter and energy
5.
of or relating to physics
6.
perceptible to the senses; apparent
a physical manifestation
noun
7. short for physical examination
Derived forms
physically (ˈphysically)
adverb
physicalness (ˈphysicalness)
noun
physical in American English
(ˈfɪzɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of nature and all matter; natural; material
2.
of natural science or natural philosophy
3.
of or according to the laws of nature
4.
of, or produced by the forces of, physics
5.
a.
of the body as opposed to the mind
physical exercise
b.
preoccupied with bodily or sexual pleasures; carnal
c.
of or marked by aggressive or rough play, activity, etc.
noun
6. US
a general medical examination
: in full physical examination
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈbodily, maˈterial
Derived forms
physically (ˈphysically)
adverb
Word origin
ME phisical, having to do with medicine < ML physicalis < L physica: see physic
Examples of 'physical' in a sentence
physical
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
This can trigger mental health problems as well as physical disabilities.
The Sun (2017)
She is the only witness and understandably has no physical evidence of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have no physical contact and certainly no romance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is a vulnerable member of society suffering from significant mental and physical ill health.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to be more creative in how we build physical activity back into their daily lives.
The Sun (2016)
The Games pit the physical skills and strength of person against person.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I love him but our physical relationship is getting me down.
The Sun (2016)
He said that frail older people with physical and mental health problems were at particular risk of loneliness and isolation at this time of year.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Not just with his lineout game but that physical presence which has been too much for England in the past decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
For this reason I try to maintain good physical form.
The Sun (2016)
They are both physical players with real presence.
The Sun (2011)
They think they have a physical illness and most of their families do too.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We feel it when we watch our loved ones lose physical and mental capacities.
Christianity Today (2000)
Writing is more physical than people think.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Perhaps those looks are of physical rather than fiscal disgust.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What began as a supernatural problem soon produced its own fair share of physical challenges as well.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What are my particular physical strengths and weaknesses?
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
The deterioration of my physical appearance caused neighbours and family members who visited to approach me differently.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We knew it would be a physical game against a strong team.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They did not look terrified and there was no evidence of physical injury.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The key is to give her body enough physical challenge.
Sally Gunnell, Kathryn Leigh BE YOUR BEST: How Anyone can become Fit, Healthy and Confident (2002)
Victims often have their lives blighted for good by physical and mental injuries.
The Sun (2014)
The participants were asked about their sleep habits and were given physical examinations to determine general health.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We managed to not actually have real physical contact.
The Sun (2016)
Will it spur an upsurge of physical activity?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The sharp decline was usually the result of ill health or physical disability.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Then there are the real physical risks of going through all this in your forties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They generally run in families and are rarely caused by an underlying physical illness.
The Sun (2016)
We do still have a great physical relationship and love each other very much.
The Sun (2008)
Three generations ago people did physical labour as a job.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It took her weeks to accept that she might have a mental rather than a physical disease.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The concept of play applies to patterns of thought as well as physical behaviour.
Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)
There is a particular comradeship because physical and mental strengths are tested in so many spheres.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The game was more physical and there was a lot of needle.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
physical
British English: physical /ˈfɪzɪkl/ ADJECTIVE
Physical means connected with a person's body, rather than with their mind.
Physical activity promotes good health.
American English: physical
Arabic: بَدَنِيٌّ
Brazilian Portuguese: físico
Chinese: 身体的
Croatian: fizički
Czech: tělesný
Danish: fysisk
Dutch: fysiek
European Spanish: físico
Finnish: ruumiillinen
French: physique pas mental
German: körperlich
Greek: σωματικός
Italian: fisico del corpo
Japanese: 身体の
Korean: 신체의
Norwegian: fysisk
Polish: fizyczny
European Portuguese: físico
Romanian: fizic
Russian: физический
Latin American Spanish: físico relativo a la naturaleza y la física
Swedish: fysisk
Thai: เกี่ยวกับร่างกาย
Turkish: fiziksel
Ukrainian: фізичний
Vietnamese: thuộc về thân thể
British English: physical /ˈfɪzɪkl/ NOUN
A physical is a medical examination of the body to diagnose disease or check fitness.
He must pass a physical to finalize the contract.
American English: physical
Arabic: فحص جسدي
Brazilian Portuguese: exame físico
Chinese: 体格检查
Croatian: liječnički pregled
Czech: zdravotní prohlídka
Danish: lægeundersøgelse
Dutch: lichamelijk onderzoek
European Spanish: reconocimiento médico
Finnish: lääkärintarkastus
French: visite médicale examination
German: ärztliche Untersuchung
Greek: ιατρική εξέταση
Italian: visita medica
Japanese: 身体検査
Korean: 신체검사
Norwegian: helsesjekk
Polish: fizyczność
European Portuguese: exame físico
Romanian: consultație
Russian: медосмотр
Latin American Spanish: examen físico
Swedish: läkarundersökning
Thai: การตรวจร่างกาย
Turkish: fizik görünüş
Ukrainian: медичний огляд
Vietnamese: kiểm tra sức khỏe
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'physical'
physical body
Your body is all your physical parts, including your head, arms , and legs .
physical pain
Pain is the feeling of great discomfort you have, for example when you have been hurt or when you are ill .
physical battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
physical danger
Danger is the possibility that someone may be harmed or killed .
physical effect
The effect of one thing on another is the change that the first thing causes in the second thing.
physical energy
Energy is the ability and strength to do active physical things and the feeling that you are full of physical power and life.
physical jerks
to move or cause to move with an irregular or spasmodic motion
physical nature
The nature of something is its basic quality or character.
physical optics
the branch of optics concerned with the wave properties of light, the superposition of waves, the deviation of light from its rectilinear propagation in a manner other than that considered by geometrical optics, the interaction of light with matter , and the quantum , corpuscular aspects of light
physical ability
Your ability to do something is the fact that you can do it.
physical activity
any form of physical exercise
physical affection
If you regard someone or something with affection , you like them and are fond of them.
physical chemistry
the branch of chemistry concerned with the way in which the physical properties of substances depend on and influence their chemical structure, properties, and reactions
physical courage
Courage is the quality shown by someone who decides to do something difficult or dangerous , even though they may be afraid .
physical education
Physical education is the school subject in which children do physical exercises or take part in physical games and sports.
physical endurance
Endurance is the ability to continue with an unpleasant or difficult situation, experience , or activity over a long period of time.
physical exercise
movements and activities done to keep your body healthy or make it stronger
physical fitness
the degree to which one is healthy and strong
physical geography
the branch of geography that deals with the natural features of the earth's surface
physical handicap
loss of or failure to develop a specific bodily function or functions, whether of movement, sensation , coordination , or speech, but excluding mental disabilities
physical intimacy
Intimacy between two people is a very close personal relationship between them.
physical inventory
To carry out a physical inventory is to count all the stock on hand .
physical medicine
the branch of medicine devoted to the management of physical disabilities , as resulting from rheumatic disease, asthma , poliomyelitis , etc
physical pendulum
any apparatus consisting of a body of possibly irregular shape allowed to rotate freely about a horizontal axis on which it is pivoted ( distinguished from simple pendulum )
physical problem
A problem is a situation that is unsatisfactory and causes difficulties for people.
physical reality
You use reality to refer to real things or the real nature of things rather than imagined , invented , or theoretical ideas.
physical science
The physical sciences are branches of science such as physics, chemistry, and geology that are concerned with natural forces and with things that do not have life .
physical therapist
the therapeutic use of physical agents or means, such as massage , exercises , etc
physical therapy
Physical therapy is the same as → physiotherapy .
physical training
training and practice in sports , gymnastics , etc, as in schools and colleges
physical anthropology
the branch of anthropology dealing with the genetic aspect of human development and its physical variations
physical confrontation
A confrontation is a dispute , fight, or battle between two groups of people.
physical environment
Your environment consists of the particular natural surroundings in which you live or exist, considered in relation to their physical characteristics or weather conditions.
physical examination
the process of examining the body by means of sight , touch , percussion , or auscultation to diagnose disease or verify fitness
physical impairment
A physical impairment is a condition in which a part of a person's body is damaged or is not working properly.
National Physical Laboratory
a UK establishment founded in 1900 at Teddington to carry out research in physics and monitor standards of measurement
physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is medical treatment for problems of the joints , muscles , or nerves , which involves doing exercises or having part of your body massaged or warmed .
Chinese translation of 'physical'
physical
(ˈfɪzɪkl)
adj
(= not mental)[needs, harm, exercise, strength]生理的 (shēnglǐ de)