motion sickness

Meaning

Motion sickness refers to a feeling of nausea, dizziness, or unease caused by motion during travel on a boat, plane, car, or train. It happens when there is a conflict between what your eyes see and what your inner ear senses. It is a common, neutral term used globally when discussing travel discomfort.

Examples

• I always get motion sickness if I try to read in the backseat of a car.

  I always get motion sickness if I try to read in the backseat of a car.

• Make sure to pack some motion sickness pills before we board the ferry.

  Make sure to pack some motion sickness pills before we board the ferry.

• She suffers from severe motion sickness, so she prefers driving over being a passenger.

  She suffers from severe motion sickness, so she prefers driving over being a passenger.

• If you start feeling motion sickness, look at the horizon to help your brain adjust.

  If you start feeling motion sickness, look at the horizon to help your brain adjust.

• The winding mountain roads triggered his motion sickness almost immediately.

  The winding mountain roads triggered his motion sickness almost immediately.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have travel sickness in my stomach.

  ✓ I get motion sickness when I travel.

  While 'travel sickness' is occasionally used, saying 'sickness in my stomach' sounds unnatural. Native speakers typically use the verbs 'get' or 'suffer from' with 'motion sickness.'

• ✗ The boat made me motion sickened.

  ✓ The boat gave me motion sickness.

  'Motion sickened' is not a standard English adjective. Use the noun 'motion sickness' with 'give/get' or use the adjective 'motion sick' (e.g., 'The boat made me motion sick').

Related Expressions

Practice

• I can't play virtual reality games for too long because they give me ___.

  💡 The feeling of nausea caused by simulated movement.

  Show answer

  motion sickness

• He took some medication to prevent ___ before the boat tour.

  💡 Nausea caused by travel.

  Show answer

  motion sickness