nerve

American  

[nurv] / nɜrv /

noun

• nerves
  plural

1. one or more bundles of fibers forming part of a system that conveys impulses of sensation, motion, etc., between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body.

2. a sinew or tendon.

   to strain every nerve.

3. firmness or courage under trying circumstances.

   an assignment requiring nerve;

   to lose your nerve at the very last moment.

   Synonyms:

   resolution, fortitude, intrepidity, steadfastness

4. boldness; audacity; impudence; impertinence.

   He had the nerve to say that?

5. nerves, nervousness.

   an attack of nerves.

6. strength, vigor, or energy.

   a test of nerve and stamina.

   Synonyms:

   might, force, power

   Antonyms:

   weakness

7. (not in technical use) pulp tissue of a tooth.

8. Botany. a vein, as in a leaf.

9. a line, or one of a system of lines, extending across something.

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verb (used with object)

• nerves,
  present (3rd person singular)
• nerved,
  past participle,  past
• nerving
  present participle

1. to give strength, vigor, or courage to.

   Encouragement had nerved him for the struggle.

   Synonyms:

   brace, steel, invigorate, fortify, strengthen

   Antonyms:

   weaken

idioms

1. bundle of nerves. see bundle of nerves.

2. have nerves of steel, to be able to control one’s fear or unease and remain calm and competent, even in the worst of circumstances.

   I thought I had nerves of steel, but when we had to dissect a pig, I turned into a jellyfish.

3. get on one's nerves, to irritate, annoy, or provoke one.

   Boisterous children get on my nerves.

nerve British  

/ nɜːv /

noun

1. any of the cordlike bundles of fibres that conduct sensory or motor impulses between the brain or spinal cord and another part of the body

2. courage, bravery, or steadfastness

3. to become timid, esp failing to perform some audacious act

4. informal boldness or effrontery; impudence

   he had the nerve to swear at me

5. muscle or sinew (often in the phrase strain every nerve )

6. a large vein in a leaf

7. any of the veins of an insect's wing

8. to mention or bring to mind a sensitive issue or subject

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verb

1. to give courage to (oneself); steel (oneself)

2. to provide with nerve or nerves

nerve Scientific  

/ nûrv /

1. Any of the bundles of fibers made up of neurons that carry sensory and motor information throughout the body in the form of electrical impulses. Afferent nerves carry information to the central nervous system, and efferent nerves carry information from the central nervous system to the muscles, organs, and glands. Efferent nerves include the nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which control voluntary motor activity and of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary motor activity.

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nerve Cultural  

1. A bundle of fibers composed of neurons that connects the body parts and organs to the central nervous system and carries impulses from one part of the body to another.

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nerve More Idioms  

1. see bundle of nerves; get on someone's nerves; get up (one's nerve); have a nerve; lose one's nerve; of all the nerve; war of nerves.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• nerves
  plural

Participles

• nerving
  present
• nerved
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• nerve
  simple
• nerves
  simple
• have nerved
  perfect
• has nerved
  perfect
• am nerving
  progressive
• are nerving
  progressive
• is nerving
  progressive
• have been nerving
  perfect progressive
• has been nerving
  perfect progressive

Past

• nerved
  simple
• had nerved
  perfect
• was nerving
  progressive
• were nerving
  progressive
• had been nerving
  perfect progressive

Future

• will nerve
  simple
• will have nerved
  perfect
• will be nerving
  progressive
• will have been nerving
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of nerve

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “nerve, tendon,” from Latin nervus “sinew, tendon”; akin to Greek neûron ( see neuron); replacing Middle English nerf, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Explanation

A nerve is a group of fibers that send sensation or physical feeling to the brain. Back pain can sometimes be caused by a damaged or pinched nerve. Your body depends on your nerves for sensing pain, heat, and cold — not to mention making it possible for you to move your muscles. You can also use the word nerve to mean bravery or daring: "She didn't know if she'd have the nerve to skydive when she was finally up in the plane." In the 1500s, to nerve was "to ornament with threads." All of these come from a Latin root, nervus, "sinew, tendon, cord, or bowstring."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nerve nerves nerved nerving

Amyloid beta places additional stress on nerve cells, and that stress encourages the formation of more inactive GRK2 and more GRK2 aggregates.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

But Liam Dawson held his nerve to hit the winning runs with a six over mid-wicket, sealing victory with two balls to spare.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

Among the brand’s options is a zero-proof Negroni containing lion’s mane, a mushroom said to promote brain and nerve health.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Authorities and experts agree that the Forest City operations were probably staffed by criminals who had been driven out of Cambodia, a global nerve centre for transnational scams.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

It was a question I’d wondered for years, but never had the nerve or the opportunity to ask.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Some evidence indicates that nerves may stimulate the formation of blood vessels, which can supply tumors with oxygen and nutrients.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Cox and her team now want to better understand exactly how nerves contribute to tumor growth.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

"I've been waiting a couple of months so there's been a little bit of nerves," he said.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

“I think nerves are a good thing,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

He tried to calm his nerves, which had been jangled by the unusually strong earthquake.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

“He can get a little nerved up in the paddock,” said Shirreffs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2021

Then followed a few scruffy years on local TV, including his celebrated stint as a smart-aleck weatherman, before he nerved himself to head to Los Angeles in 1975.

From New York Times ● Apr. 10, 2017

Less a teen-age Rangerphile than an arachnophobe encountering a tarantula, I nerved myself to walk over to where Lindsay sat and confronted him, boy to man.

From The New Yorker ● Apr. 19, 2015

With the agility and speed of a backcourt guard, he un nerved opponents by blocking numerous shots, scoring 145 points and leading the team in rebounds.

From Time Magazine Archive

“I needed some fresh air,” I tell him, which is indicative of how nerved up I am.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

As the story starts, the singer is nerving herself to ask a doctor whether or not she has a cancer.

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week, in the salty little city of Bath, Me., the moment lor which Mrs. Vanderbilt had been nerving herself finally arrived.

From Time Magazine Archive

Amateur championships nerving himself up to proper pitch.

From Time Magazine Archive

She stood outside nerving herself for the ordeal, knowing her desk would be the only one without flowers.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

So, nerving herself for the ordeal, she went down to dinner the next day in anything but a happy frame of mind.

From Peggy Owen at Yorktown by Lucy Foster Madison

Related Words

• confidence
• courage
• determination
• fortitude
• grit
• heart
• spirit
• stomach