anxious

American  

[angk-shuhs, ang-] / ˈæŋk ʃəs, ˈæŋ- /

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.

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anxious British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of anxious

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

Compare meaning

How does anxious compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anxious vs. anxiety
• anxious vs. eager

Explanation

When you are anxious, you are very concerned or worried, but it can also refer to when you are quite interested in something. You might be anxious to improve your performance in math class after falling asleep during a big test. The word anxious has generally been used to describe when someone is very concerned about something. In medical terms, to be anxious means feeling uneasy and worried but not always with a specific focus. On the other hand, being anxious can also mean that you are very eager. One meaning is negative and the other is positive!

Example Sentences

“We’re definitely really nervous and anxious about the upcoming season, especially with the staff shortage we already have,” said a National Federation of Federal Employees union member at Yosemite who requested anonymity to speak candidly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

“When we’re anxious, we want to go back to things that made us feel safe,” Moss says.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

Karsen MacDougall, a senior at High Point University in North Carolina, was feeling anxious when she still hadn’t gotten a job by February.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Supporters have good reason to be anxious heading into the final part of the title race after three successive second-place finishes and a 22-year wait for a top-flight title.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“One bronze piece. You won’t regret it—and money’s hard for a fortune teller, these days, with everyone anxious and nobody clear why.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

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