psychic
psychic — adjective
1. describing a person who can do things that seem impossible by ordinary means, su
describing a person who can do things that seem impossible by ordinary means, such as seeing future events or reading another person's thoughts without being told anything
Gabriel felt a strange psychic connection to the old house, as if he had lived there before.
collocation: psychic connection
The documentary explored whether animals have a psychic sense that helps them find their way home.
psychic sense + whether-clause
Dylan claimed he had a psychic ability to locate lost objects just by holding a photograph of the owner.
When her phone suddenly rang, Eve had a psychic feeling that something terrible had happened to her brother.
- clairvoyant
more specific — refers only to seeing future events or distant scenes
- telepathic
more specific — refers only to reading or transmitting thoughts
- supernatural
broader — covers all phenomena beyond natural laws, not just mental abilities
- rational
based on logic and evidence rather than mysterious forces
- scientific
based on observation and testing rather than claimed special powers
文法句型
psychic + noun describing a power or perception
be + psychic
用法筆記
Often used before nouns that name special perceptions or talents, such as powers, ability, sense, feeling, or reading.
常見錯誤
2. relating to thoughts, emotions, or mental processes rather than to physical caus
relating to thoughts, emotions, or mental processes rather than to physical causes — used especially of medical conditions that have no clear physical explanation
The doctor explained that the patient's chest pains were psychic in origin, not caused by any heart problem.
psychic in origin — formal medical phrasing
Some severe headaches have a psychic rather than a physical cause, linked to stress or anxiety.
psychic rather than physical
The clinic offers treatment for psychic disorders such as post-traumatic stress and chronic depression.
Mauricio learned to manage his psychic fatigue by meditating for twenty minutes each morning.
- mental
more common in everyday speech; less formal than psychic in this sense
- psychological
broader — covers all aspects of mind and behaviour
- emotional
narrower — focuses on feelings rather than all mental processes
文法句型
psychic + noun (especially illness, pain, disorder)
be + psychic in origin
用法筆記
This sense appears mainly in medical or psychological writing. For everyday conversation, psychological or mental is more common when describing conditions of the mind.
常見錯誤
3. connected with powers, energies, or influences that exist outside the material w
connected with powers, energies, or influences that exist outside the material world and cannot be measured or explained by physical science
The philosopher argued that psychic reality is just as important as the material world.
collocation: psychic reality
Rania explored the idea of a universal psychic field that connects all living creatures across the planet.
Ancient healing traditions often describe a psychic energy that flows through the human body along specific paths.
A small number of scientists are open to studying non-material psychic phenomena that current physics cannot explain.
- spiritual
broader — can include religious beliefs, not just forces beyond physics
- paranormal
more formal; preferred in scientific discussions of unexplained phenomena
- immaterial
philosophical term for things that have no physical substance
文法句型
psychic + noun (energy, reality, force, phenomenon)
用法筆記
Common in discussions of alternative spirituality, philosophy, and traditional healing. Avoid using this sense in formal scientific writing, where the term paranormal is preferred.
psychic — noun
1. someone who claims to know things that cannot be discovered by ordinary methods,
someone who claims to know things that cannot be discovered by ordinary methods, such as future events, hidden information, or the thoughts of others
After the hurricane, a local psychic helped the family locate their missing grandmother in the rubble.
Jabari went to see a psychic who told him he would soon receive an unexpected job offer from abroad.
verb + psychic: go to see a psychic
The village elders treated the old woman as a psychic and asked for her guidance before every major decision.
Some psychics charge hundreds of dollars for a single session, while others offer their readings for free.
- clairvoyant
more specific — someone who sees future events or distant scenes
- medium
more specific — someone who communicates with spirits of the dead
- telepath
more specific — someone who reads or transmits thoughts directly
- fortune-teller
less formal — someone who predicts a person's future, often for money
- sceptic
someone who doubts claims of supernatural abilities
- rationalist
someone who believes only what can be proved by logic or evidence
文法句型
a psychic
the psychic
psychics (plural)
用法筆記
Unlike clairvoyant or medium, psychic is a neutral, general term that can refer to any kind of claimed supernatural perception — not just seeing the future or communicating with spirits.