1.distress用作动词时的基本意思是“使痛苦,使忧伤”,指某些令人不愉快的事或消息使人心情低落,其后通常接表示人称的代词作宾语。
2.distress的过去分词distressed常用作形容词,在句中作表语。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
The news of his death distressed us greatly.他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
其他
▲～ed as s-Compl.
We are distressed at your failure.我们为你的失败感到难过。
Anne was greatly distressed that she had not passed the final English exam.安十分难过,因为她英语期末考试不及格。
We were distressed to find that the children had not returned.我们发现孩子没有回来,感到很忧虑。

［同义词］ v. trouble, worry
［反义词］ v. please, satisfy
［词源］＜古法语destress(苦恼,悲痛)

Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
How can we prevent such distress?我们怎样才能避免这种困境?
Send out a distress signal; the ship is sinking.发出求救信号吧,船正在下沉。