anxious

[angk-shuhs, ang-]

adjective

1. full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; apprehensive.

   Her parents were anxious about her poor health.

   Synonyms: enthusiastic, solicitous, uneasy, fearful, disturbed, concerned
   Antonyms: confident, calm

2. earnestly desirous; eager (usually followed by an infinitive orfor ): anxious for our happiness.

   anxious to please;

   anxious for our happiness.

   Antonyms: hesitant, reluctant

3. attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness.

   anxious forebodings.

anxious

/ ˈæŋkʃəs, ˈæŋʃəs /

adjective

1. worried and tense because of possible misfortune, danger, etc; uneasy

2. fraught with or causing anxiety; worrying; distressing

   an anxious time

3. intensely desirous; eager

   anxious for promotion

Other Word Forms

• anxiousness noun
• anxiously adverb
• quasi-anxious adjective
• unanxious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin anxius “worried, distressed,” derivative of angere “to strangle, pain, distress”; anguish, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of anxious¹

C17: from Latin anxius; related to Latin angere to torment; see _anger , _anguish

Example Sentences

“In our first game last year, I was a little anxious playing them,” Woodhouse told The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

The mother of the 11-year-old said her daughter has been left anxious and distressed, and was worried about going out in public and meeting people.

From BBC

He also said "we are all - let's be honest - quite anxious" about some of the arrests and prosecutions over comments online.

From BBC

The result captures the anxious, conspiratorial spirit of 2025 with eerie precision, proving once again that Plemons doesn’t need to raise his voice to deliver a performance that speaks volumes.

From Los Angeles Times

While she's anxious about her departure, she says her treatment has helped.

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid 
• apprehensive 
• careful 
• concerned 
• distressed 
• fearful 
• fidgety 
• jittery 
• nervous 
• restless 
• scared 
• uneasy 
• uptight