anxiously
Americanadverb
-
in an uneasy or worried manner.
My first call was to my wife, who had been anxiously awaiting word of my whereabouts.
-
in an earnestly desirous or eager manner.
They are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anxiously
Vocabulary lists containing anxiously
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice, Unit 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s totally fine to karaoke with a buddy, but if that’s the only way someone sings, they’re the Anxiously Attached Performer.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2023
Walevska responded to the email with alacrity: “Please phone me as soon as you can! Anxiously awaiting your phone contact.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2020
Anxiously checking the mailbox every day, I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I finally retrieved the envelope with my name neatly spelled out: Mrs. Natalia Gervais.
From Salon • Sep. 1, 2018
Anxiously Waiting: The most likely scenario is that Mr. Corvette is using the matching site to meet other women, and you should do the same to meet other men.
From Washington Post • Jul. 2, 2018
Anxiously he clicked to the second frame, and what he saw was no less discouraging: a dirty bare foot.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
